THE Annual General Meeting of the Harvington Youth Project was held on February 28. The Youth project has been running since 1994, and is run by a steering group comprising representatives of both St James’ Church and Harvington Baptist Church. The meeting was chaired by Mel Curnock and the financial report was given by Andrew Cracknell. Hannah Owen the current Youth Worker, was unable to be present at the meeting as she had just given birth to a baby girl. So the report about the Youth Group was given by Mel Curnock. The project is still running three groups, Adventurers for those aged 7+ on Thursdays, the 10+ group on Tuesdays and a drop-in for 13+ on Fridays, all groups are doing well and are being run by volunteers from both churches during Hannah’s maternity leave. The Project had put on several fund raising activities to supplement the money given by the two churches and the grants, during 2014 these included Harvington Entertains, a table top sale and a cycle/canoe challenge.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer service was held in St James’ Church on March 6. It was organised locally by members of St James’ Church and Harvington Baptist Church, although members of other denominations took part. The service was led by Elizabeth Harrison. Women’s World Day of Prayer has its roots in 19th century America and Canada with co-operative societies involving prayer and social action. The co-operatives soon banded together and became interdenominational and in 1926 became Women’s World Day of Prayer. In the UK there are over 3000 branches and last year over a quarter of a million took part in the services. The service in Harvington raised over £100 which will be spent on one off grants by the national committee to project charities in the UK and the country that has written the service for the current year.

The recent School Discos organised by the PTFA raised £290 which will go to the school.

The Coffee Morning held on Saturday, March 7 to raise funds for and awareness of the Alzheimer’s Society raised over £350. The morning was well attended, and a Harvington resident spoke about the impact that a recent Alzheimers diagnosis had had on their family. This was then followed by a presentation about how to become a Dementia Friends Champion, which many present found very helpful, as most people know someone who is affected by some sort of dementia. The star of the morning was Bramble, Fran and David Battin’s dog, whose weight was a mystery, and who raised £50 as people tried to guess it.

•Coming up: 1st Harvington Guides are celebrating their Ruby Anniversary on Saturday, March 21 by hosting a cream tea in the village hall between 2.30-4.30pm. Tea or coffee with scone and jam or a piece of cake will be available for £2. The Guides will have a display of the things they have been doing recently. Everyone is welcome, particularly ex-guiders or guiders from the village and surrounding areas. All proceeds from the tea will go towards keeping the Guide Unit running for another 40 years.

The gardening season has begun, and the St. James’ Church Gardening Team are preparing to clean up the gardens and churchyard around the church. They will be meeting for the first time this year on Saturday, March 21 between 9.30am-12noon, and would welcome new members to this small and friendly group to work and to chat during the break over a hot drink.

On Wednesday 25 March 25 there will be a 7 mile walk from Alcester to Coughton Court and back. There will be a pub lunch at the end of the walk. Contact Trevor 871334.

Last month the Gardening Club enjoyed an evening with Frank Hardy learning how to achieve successful ground cover planting. The next meeting is on Wednesday.

March 25 in the Village Hall at 8pm, and Sue Burn will highlight ‘’Batsford Arboretum through the year.’

On Friday, March 27 the mobile library will visit Harvington calling at Orchard Place at 9.55am, the Coach and Horses at 10.15am and Finch lane at 10.35am. For further information contact 01905 822722.

GILL THORNILEY