Help will have no meetings until 9th January 2025, when we restart weekly Thursday meetings between 11.00 and 12.00 in the cafe at Centro Social Llorca Linares, Calle Goya, Benidorm. The cafe has finally reopened.
Wishing all members and service users a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
*****UPDATE*****
Eileen´s funeral will be held in the UK on 26th Nov at 11.30 if people would like to take a moment to pay their respects. The family are donating any money to https://www.mind.org.uk/ and would be happy if anyone would like to make a donation.
Eileen Stevens 06.11.2024 24.12.1944
Such sad news to hear that our lovey Eileen has passed away. Eileen was a very active and valued member of HELP for many years. Her role was predominantly membership registration but she could turn her hand to many roles when it came to fundraising. Eileen had recently returned to the UK with husband Derek to be close to her family. Whilst at HELP she always enjoyed socialising with the many friends who she had built up solid and long-lasting friendships with.
She will be sadly missed by friends and colleagues alike.
Rest in Peace our lovely Eileen
Help Benidorm has donated 1000 euros to the GoFundMe appeal orginised by the Irish Tavern Albir. They are colaborating with Valencia Food Bank and Valencia Town Hall. The hard work and dedication by our community is commendable. Pictured at the The Irish Tavern, Albir which is the hub of the organisational group.There is still a desperate need for this fundraising to continue. Visit https://gofund.me/0bbc1236 or alternatively visit the Irish Tavern. They also need wellington boots, any size which you can drop off
17.10.1941 – 14.10.2024 RIP
We are extremely sorry to announce the very sad news that Geoff has passed away. Geoff has chosen to bequeath his body to medical science for research and educational purposes. The family will hold a farewell gathering on the Monday the 21st October at Caspers bar in the Old Town (4-7pm). The family would welcome any friends to pop in and have a drink in his memory or join them to reminisce and celebrate his interesting and industrious life.
One of Geoff’s earliest memories was during the war. Although only a toddler, he has vivid memories of a banana shortage, followed by a stampede to the greengrocers to obtain them after the war had ended. Geoff was born October 1941 in Romford and lived in leafy Upminster. He has memories of his formative years as a very simple but happy time. Going on to pass his 11 plus at Palmers Grammar school in Gray’s. Geoff had an abiding passion of anything to do with public transport …namely buses … and he went on to work for London Transport. When he met Ann, he decided that he needed to get a `proper´ job and went on to obtain his first university degree and took up a lecturing post at Colchester Institute. The passion for buses never left him and to this day still had a subscription to a London bus magazine. Geoff was also passionate about equality and was a staunch socialist and a great Union man. He was a rep for NATFHE who were concerned with providing education and training opportunities, as well as treasurer of a staff association. For a man who never sat still this wasn’t enough for him and he even stood for 2 local elections.
On retirement, he and Ann moved to Almunecar and Andalusia but it soon became evident that Geoff was chomping at the bit and, taking it easy in the sun, was most definitely not an option for him. They moved to Benidorm where he joined HELP in 2007. Geoff was a person who was always willing to help and support the vulnerable and he had a knack of seeing the good in people. As usual he gave 100% of his time and his contribution to HELP became the backbone of the charity for many years after. During his time, he was productive in setting up an Inter Cambio group bringing like minded people together to learn from each other. This group forged many and long-lasting friendships. With memories of socialising together, including Vinceta , and Denny (a stalwart of HELP ). Geoff’s main role was as treasurer and ensured that everything he did, was for the good of the charity. Anne describes Geoff as a force of nature, charging through life and getting things done. Always raising his head above the parapet and never afraid to let his voice be heard. That is what she would like his legacy to be. I think it’s fair to say that anybody that knew Geoff would wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. He was so very well respected and admired by all of his friends and colleagues alike. He, without a doubt, will be very sadly missed.
The Help Benidorm meetings on Thursdays at 11.00 at Centro Social LLorca Linares en c Goya s/n Benidorm are suspended until 5th September 2024
All our assistance activities carry on as normal throughout the summer.
There will be no more Summer Meetings until 5th September.
The meetings on Thursday morning at 11.00 am will be suspended until 5th September. All other services continue as normal.
Help Benidorm gets requests from homeless people but there is little we can do for them except refer them to Project4All. Help according to its statues can not help peole with cash handouts, therfore we donate our excess income from donations to other local charities which assist people.
Accepting the donation is the co-founder Arne Soeten and Richard Saville (treasurer). Part of the donation was given by the British Benevolent Fund Spain. The Project strives to help the vulnerable in our society. This incredible charity; with its women’s refuge still running successfully as well as a newly established men’s house that offers support to allow people to get back on their feet and resume employment, needs constant funding. The ethos of the Project is about ‘making a change’. If you would like to be part of that change, visit the website https://www.project4all.org and check out the new scheme to become a member for 10€ a month. Presenting the cheque are two of our valued and hardworking volunteers Christine Lathouders and Gerard Visser
Help Benidorm celebrated the AGM . Andrés Rubio stood down from the committee but continues as a member. For many years he had acted as an interpreter for Help and conducted both Spanish classes for foreigners and English classes for Spaniards, until the outbreak of Covid. Unfortunately there is nobody availible to continue language classes.
Help President Jacqueline Leather stated at the AGM “I would like to extend an immense THANKYOU. Andrés has made many long standing friendship’s who would like to voice their appreciation for all of his contributions, his commitment and dedication that he has applied over the years “
You can now book a GP or practise nurse appointment online,
without any authorisation codes at
https://www.gva.es/es/inicio/procedimientos?id_proc=2888 Click this link then,
click the red icon. Insert you SIP Number and date of birth. Follow the green arrows at bottom of screen until you reach Confirmar. You can choose presencial or telephone appointments and also date and time of appointment.
If you need an urgent same day appointment you still may need to ring or make appointment in person if none are available online.
