The Village of Sturmer

Organisations

The following organisations operate within the village of Sturmer. Click on each to find out more about them

Sturmer Parish Council
Sturmer and District Womens Institute
Not So Young Club
Sturmer Bowls
Under Fives Association
Sturmer Village Hall Charity
Self Help Group

The Parish Council

The Parish Council was formed as a result of the Local Government Act of 1894 and met for the first time on 13th December of that year.
The current council comprises 6 members (all village residents) elected in 1999 for a 4 year term. The first female councillor was elected in 1955. However, since the mid eighties there has been approximately equal gender representation on the Council.
The Council meets approximately every 6 weeks in the Village Hall and all parishioners are welcome to attend. They can participate in the meeting at the discretion of the Chairman or ask questions at the end of the meeting.
The annual cost to parishioners of their Parish Council is approximately £900 with an additional grant from Braintree District Council of about £1200. The majority of the Council's expenditure goes on supporting local groups and facilities such as the Village Hall.
The Parish Council has very limited statutory powers (relating to such issues as the securing of allotments and open space legislation).
Since the 1974 local government re-organisation, parish councils have been involved to a greater extent in local politics especially in consultation and focus group activities. Sturmer Parish Council has contributed focus group members on a wide variety of topics covering wildlife and countryside issues, energy conservation and waste management, public health and community safety, transport and planning.
The most recent undertaking by the Parish Council was a Village Appraisal, which sought to ascertain opinion and data from all parishioners on a wide range of subjects. The findings will be used to inform the policy and decision-making of future councils.

David Porth
Chairman

Sturmer and District Womens Institute

As the name indicates, the Sturmer and District Womens Institute has members from the surrounding area which gives a wider approach to some issues. Belonging to the Suffolk West Federation, which has its headquarters at Bury St. Edmunds, is more convenient as Sturmer is situated on the Essex/Suffolk border.
The Institute was reformed in 1968, after a short lapse, under the Presidency of Mrs. Meteyard and is an important group within the village, always ready to participate in local activities.

The logo; an apple; 
reflects the village connection to the Sturmer Pippin.

Participation in group and Federation events takes place and each year a course over four weeks on a subject chosen by the members is run; the last one was watercolour painting and was very popular. This is funded by the Institute for the members

New members are always welcome, especially those who are new to the area and have perhaps left family and friends behind; and it is often found everyone brings a special talent or new ideas with them The friendship of fellow members is probably the most important thing and is a source of comfort when things are not going well

The Diary of Events for next year is compiled in November which is also the month of the A.G.M. when the Officers and committee for the following year are elected.

For more information about W.I. events, please contact the W I  through this website. 

Not So Young Club

The "Not So Young Club" was formed in 1988. It is intended for older members of Sturmer and is a friendly relaxed group for people who prefer to be called "not so young". There are no lower age limits and all members are young at heart.
Meetings are held in Sturmer Village Hall once a month at 2.30pm, usually on the first Monday of the month, unless it is a bank holiday meetings are moved to the second Monday.
The activities are simple and enjoyable - whist drives, bingo, several board games and quizzes in sequence.
Regular outings are organised during the year - at Christmas and Easter, the members go out to lunch. Several times a  year, suppers and social evenings are held, with members providing the meals. These are followed by organised games. A high spot of the year is a summer day trip to the coast near Clacton.
Of course, meetings would not be the same without the obligatory cup of tea and biscuits and a chat.
For those who consider themselves " not so young" and perhaps would like the companionship of others, there is a warm invitation to come and join us. If you would like more information please contact us

Daphne Draper
Chair

Sturmer Bowls

Sturmer Carpet Bowls meets at Sturmer Village Hall every Wednesday evening at 7.45. There is a small charge of £1.00 per session.
This is a friendly adult group and although they do not take part in any competition there is always a keen and spirited side to their game. New members are always welcome so why not go along end enjoy a game with a chat and a cup of tea midway. And the first session of carpet bowls will be free and beginners are more than welcome. To find out more please contact us.

Sheila Sisson
Chair

Under Fives Association

The Sturmer and District Under Five's Association (Little Pippins Pre-School) works in in partnership with parents and carers. As child practitioners, our aim is to build on what children already know and can do. This is used as a foundation for future development to ensure that the child feels included, secure and valued as they move through the stages towards the national curriculum. This process is covered by the new six desirable early learning goals set in our planning and overseen by OFSTED.
A well planned, well organised and friendly environment is offered and encourages children through rich and stimulating experiences. 
Learning through play.
Children in nappies are accepted and comforters of any sort are allowed.
The activities include theme weeks, fun sessions, outside visits and walks, and wood work, cooking, multi cultural festivals and much more.

Currently there are places available for children aged between 2 and 5 years. (Grant funding for 3-4 year olds). Our features and benefits are:

We are a very proactive group, we believe that it is essential that children have the best possible preparation for full time education and we strive to provide this.  This includes social preparation and the early stages of learning through play.

We accept children in nappies and allow comforters of any sort. We have found that this way we offer a happy introduction for the child, parent/carer in to the group. Setting a good foundation for future development and moving towards the national curriculum covered by the main early learning goals, set down in our planning by OFSTED.

We offer a friendly happy environment with very friendly and approachable staff all trained in child development, two members of staff now have training in special needs. The children all have a key worker who takes a particular interest in your child and who will discuss their progress with you.

We run through term time from 09.15-11.45am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

We run theme weeks, whereby we involve parents, guardians and outside speakers to join in activities and make learning fun for the children (no parent rota).

The price per session is £5.20. This includes a drink of milk for the children at break time and the use of a wide range of activities.

There is now a new lunch club operating on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11.45 am to 1.15 pm at a cost of only £3.00.

Please contact us for further information or visit the Sturmer Village Hall between 9.15am and 11.45 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays during term times.

Zoe Hughes
Playleader

Self Help Group

The Sturmer Self Help is designed for individuals to help each other towards weight loss in a friendly but positive way. Time is available for people to talk with one another within the group.
This helps to share tips and ideas and as encouragement there are incentive theme weeks, a slimmer of the week and a regular weigh in. The opportunity is taken to test new foods introduced on the market to aid weight loss.
Meetings are held in the Sturmer Village Hall every Thursday between 7.00 and 8.30pm. There is a small charge of £2.00 per session.

Zoe Hughes

Sturmer Village Hall Charity

In the words of the Charity Commissioners, the Sturmer Village Hall Charity was officially set up in January, 1972 to provide:

"the provision and maintenance of the village hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Sturmer for meetings, lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants".

Consequently, the land and building were put into trust for the purposes of a village hall, to be managed initially by a committee of no less than six persons, consisting of two elected members and four representative members. Over the years, as the local village organisations have grown in number, so have the representative members. The Village Hall affairs are managed by a committee of ten, which was elected at the Village Hall AGM on June 13th

The Village Hall Charity Committee of Management meets every six weeks. The main aim of the Committee is to ensure that the Village Hall is maintained to a constant high level in order to provide a safe and comfortable venue for local inhabitants to use for educational or recreational purposes. As a Charity, the Committee relies mainly on the income generated from the use of the Village Hall by local organisations, supplemented by grants from local Councils, and a very pro-active fundraising calendar of events.
The Committee is also responsible for the production and distribution of the Sturmer Village News, a free publication, which is circulated to all residents in the Village.

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