Press release

Scarf  & New Forest Young Carers Service

The Mayor of New Milton, Cllr David Rice-Mundy, is pleased to announce that his nominated charities for this year are Scarf & New Forest Young Carers Service, both being local charities helping local young people and their families.

The Mayor recently met representatives of the charities and was impressed with their dedication to their mission, and the essential and much needed support they provide, as well as offering a variety of activities to those young people.

Scarf is a parent-led charity based in the New Forest and they organise term-time and holiday activities for children/young people with special needs and their families.  Scarf’s core belief is that all children and young people should have access to high quality, stimulating and exciting opportunities. Their regular term-time clubs include a multi sports, drama and a youth club, and they run a whole range of activities during school holidays which include trying new sports like archery, taekwondo, surfing and canoeing, days out to local attractions, craft activities and many more. The young people and their families really appreciate these special moments that can be difficult to access without Scarf’s support.  Scarf relies entirely on grants and donations and welcomes any contributions and assistance with raising funds.

New Forest Young Carers Service provide a range of support services for Young Carers and their families in the New Forest Area, by providing information, listening and mentoring, support at school, and being there with the affected families.     Just making things a little easier!    Sometimes they organise trips and activities so that the young carers get a much needed break from their responsibilities and to be able to meet up with friends – to have fun as children should have.   The Young Carers service being supported by lottery funding – you may want to help by volunteering, donating or funding, looking out for Young Carers, or by hosting awareness raising workshops.

Cllr David Rice-Mundy wants to highlight these charities this year by raising awareness and raising funds for their wonderful array of activities – all making their lives a little bit brighter and definitely bringing fun back into the youngster’s lives.  The Mayor will host his charity ball in March 2018 when people are invited to come along to eat, boogie and have fun themselves whilst supporting these worthwhile charities.    There will also be a retiring collection at the Annual Carol Service this year on 2 December at St Mary Magdalene Church, New Milton.

Further details about Scarf from admin@scarfnewforest.org or

About Young Carers Service contact Marie.shotbolt@cfnf.org.uk

New Milton Town Council tel 01425 619120

picture – Scarf youngsters enjoying sports activities

picture – New Milton young carers receiving Young Person of the Year Awards

ASBOC Youth and Community Group present a wonderful array of activities on and around the Recreation Ground and Memorial Centre this summer.  Activities include a café drop in every Monday, Thursday and Friday, as well as music, dance, sports and arts, and on Saturdays its chill with a hot dog and milkshake.   Sounds absolutely fantastic!

Further details from Asboc tele. 07961 791588 or email Asboc

Yesterday New Milton hosted the Pedal Car Grand Prix, organised by the New Milton Jubilee Committee, with 36 teams participating.  Our congratulations and best wishes to everyone taking part.

Read the Daily Echo article here Thousands turn out for New Milton Pedal Car Grand Prix

PRESS RELEASE

‘Anything Grows’ Allotments, specially created to be dementia-friendly, were officially opened at New Milton’s Becton Lane allotment site, at a launch event last Thursday.

Recognising the benefits of gardening for gentle exercise and interaction with nature and the community, New Milton Town Council and the New Milton Dementia Action Group saw an opportunity to give some relief to the heart ache and challenges that Dementia can bring to local families.

A seed for the idea was planted last autumn when Wimborne Minster Town Council gave a talk on the Kingston Lacy Dementia Allotment scheme at the Council’s annual allotments meeting. The idea was nurtured over winter, a suitable site identified, with the full backing of the allotment holders, and a presentation made to the Town Council’s Amenities Committee. The plan was then presented to and warmly approved by the full town council. Action group leader Sue Wiffen, Cllrs Geoffrey Blunden and Bob Murrow worked with a steering group to develop the plan and secure funding.

Finally, this spring, Council’s ground maintenance team, led by Mark Jeffries, estates manager installed raised beds together, a shed and created a sheltered area; and the Action Group volunteers planted the first vegetables and flowers.

Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, Chairman of the Town Council’s Amenities Committee, said: “Today we see that seed of an idea in blossom with these Dementia Friendly Allotments completed which I know will give reward and great pleasure to all who use them. I would like to give a big thank to all those who have supported this this project and made it happen in such a short time.”

Sue Wiffen added: “It is so important for people to have access to outside areas and to feel supported within their community. Anything Grows Allotments open up opportunities for everyone and are currently open on Tuesday 10-1pm and Thursday 1-4pm.”

For more information call Sue on 07884 300641 or email suechef@live.co.uk

New Milton Town Council successfully launched their first Teenage Market on 31st May.   There were four stalls run by teenagers alongside the existing market stalls at the Weekly Wednesday Market. The idea is to encourage budding entrepreneurs and to help them gain skills and an understanding of the retail business industry.  There is no charge to the young people for the use of the stall.

They mostly make the  goods for their stalls.   Recently this consisted of cakes, knitted crafts, bath bombs and second hand items.   They researched prices and took time to display their stall attractively, to maximise potential sales, as well as engaging with their customers.

The Teenage Street Trading is affiliated to the national Teenage Market brand.   The market stalls available for teenagers will initially only be available during the school holidays. Young people are also encouraged to busk on these days, giving a festival ambience to the street market.

Anyone interested in having a stall or in busking, please contact the Youth Coordinator at New Milton Town Council on telephone 01425 619120 or email  New Milton Town Council.

News Release 

New Milton’s Entry to South East in Bloom

In the last couple of years, New Milton has excelled at producing some amazing floral displays around the town including the introduction of wildflower planting.  We’ve had many positive comments and letters of praise from our residents and visitors who really appreciate seeing the displays getting better and better year on year.

Taking these comments on board it was agreed that the Town Council should look at entering Britain In Bloom for 2017.  Peter Holman from South & South East In Bloom was invited to give a presentation at last January’s Amenities Committee meeting, which covered the core categories and assessment that would be required by entrants.  Having reviewed the requirements after Peter’s superb presentation it was agreed that New Milton would enter South & South East In Bloom in the Town Centre Category.

The floral displays form a large part of the marking but the judging also takes into account our community involvement such as working with the New Milton Dementia Group who are doing a fantastic job at the Becton Lane Allotments with their raised planters, The Long Meadow Community Group and their fabulous wild flower areas and New Milton Residents Association on various projects.   The judges will also look at the Town Councils involvement and sponsorship with businesses, and we are grateful to Bradbeers, Northfield Nurseries, New Milton Residents Association, Chewton Glen, UK Chiropractic and South West Trains for their ongoing commitment.

The general appearance of the town also forms part of the judging.

This year’s displays were actually formulated by our Estates Team as far back as last November with the type of planting, and colour scheme being discussed with the nursery. The design, planting and ongoing maintenance of the displays is carried out by the Estates Team who aim to keep the displays at their very best until at least the end of October.

The Judging takes place on Friday 30 June, with the results due in September / October.

19 June 2017

We have updated the Car Boot Sales list for this year to include amendments, as follows –

25 June 2017 – hosted by New Milton Town Partnership

9 July 2017 – no car boot booked to take place

13 August 2017 – hosted by New Milton Friends Group

Download new list here Car boot sales dates 2017

Congratulations to Cllr David Rice-Mundy our recently appointed Town Mayor and Chairman of the council together with Cllr Keith Craze our Deputy Town Mayor and Vice Chairman.