News Update
SUNNYSID
E UPDATE 5th 
November 2020
Dear Trainees, Families, Carers and Customers
We hope you are all well. Following the latest news regarding a lockdown taking place across England, from today, we wanted to reassure everyone that we will remain open at this time.
We will be staying open, as we have done through the whole of lockdown as we feel it is extremely important that people with learning disabilities continue to receive services. We continue to follow our strict protocols around social distancing, hygiene practices, cleaning schedules, sticking to our “bubbles”, transport situation and this enables us to run a safe service. We continually review and update our systems in line with government guidance and good practice.
A big thank you to all our loyal customers!
| Support local | Shop local |
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SUNNYSIDE UPDATE 21st August 2020
BACK OPEN – our Sunnyside Up Farmshop at Hemel Food Garden is now open to customers to come in and shop. Please read this post as we have made some necessary changes.
There is a new entrance – the second set of double doors and new exit through the first doors from the main site entrance. The shop is set up with a one-way system, with payment at the usual till spot at the end. We kindly request that customers wear a face mask and we are limited to 4 customers in the shop at one time.
Our Sunnyside Up café at Hemel Food Garden is now open with outside seating, and serving ‘eat in’ meals again; you can sit outside or takeaway. The shop, currently, remains operational with a personalised service. Both are open from 10 until 3pm, Monday to Saturday. Pop down for your favourite ‘Wobbly Bottom Cheese’ toastie, cup of tea, barista coffee or try the ‘cool’ iced latte. We have a great selection of vegan and dairy ice-creams for the hot days.
The Farm shop is also open at our Northchurch site, open Monday to Friday, 10 until 3pm. Please pay by card where possible. We kindly request that customers wear a face mask and use the available hand sanitiser as you come in and leave.
A big thank you to all our loyal customers!
| Support local | Shop local |
SUNNYSIDE UPDATE 14th July 2020
A lovely article in Hemel Today @HemelHempsteadGazette highlighting the work we have been doing over the last few months during lockdown, and the recognition we have received as a Hertfordshire Hero. It goes to all the team, trainees and volunteers who have gone the extra mile in these challenging times – we thank you!
https://www.facebook.com/sunnysideruraltrustcharity/photos/a.441523619217053/3078981315471257
SUNNYSIDES UPDATE 10th June 2020
We are so pleased we have been able to remain open and operating during these difficult times. It is so heartening to see an increasing number of our trainees returning back to work. We have introduced lots of new measures e.g. ensuring work stations are set up with appropriate distancing, wearing hi-vis tabards to identify groups quickly and easily and having regular training on our safety measures. These and regular cleaning of surfaces and spaces, more hand washing and distancing during breaks will allow us to continue to run. We are not yet able to offer the transport that we had in place previously but are working hard on a safe solution. Thank you to everyone for their patience.
We have sent out some more kits for all our trainees, bringing Sunnyside to them. After the great response to the activity and ‘grow your own’ kits we were able to put together a baking and tea party kit, which included dry ingredients to make ‘hedgehog’ rolls and carrot cup-cakes and a card games pack. Please look out for the next kit coming in early June!
May has been another busy month growing Dacorum Borough Council bedding contract, Perennials for RHS Hampton Court show, designed by Tom Stuart Smith and running both shops. Don’t forget to pop in to get your essentials as well as a plant or more!
The café is open for hot and cold drinks, ice-cream, snacks and takeaway toasties!
We have continued to work in partnership with South Hill Centre, DENS and Dacorum Intensive Family team to offer a food bank service and deliver kits to children and families in need of some support. HCF have granted us generous funding to support this work. High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Henry Holland-Hibbert and his wife, Kate took a socially distanced tour of Sunnyside. They were very welcome guests and took the time to get to know our work and the sites.
We wish everyone good health and please do get in touch if you think we can help
Our previous Coronavirus update with useful COVID information websites, about PPE and Food Bank vouchers is still available on the link below:
https://www.sunnysideruraltrust.org.uk/coronavirus-update/