The Maybury Support Group.

It is rare to be able to sit down and eat when carrying out Shrieval visits, so Suzanne and I were delighted when we visited the Maybury Support Group to find that they had laid on a veritable feast of samosas, pakora and chana chat for us to enjoy. It was one of numerous pleasures we enjoyed on our visit.

Set up in 2023, by the indefatigable Abdul Hamid, its purpose is to support the local community by providing a number of activities for both able bodied and disabled. The objective is to empower and educate the local community so they are better able to look after themselves. They run weekly coffee mornings for both men and women, local swim classes, excursions and on a Saturday afternoon (when we attended) a communal gathering at the Sheerwater Youth Centre. When we arrived it was a hive of activity with table tennis, badminton and pool games in full swing. Recent funding has allowed the use of a minibus to bring local disabled people to attend and everyone was enjoying the friendship and companionship that the session allowed. For many loneliness and isolation is an issue which started in COVID and has not easily been remedied. Support has been given from Surrey County Council, the Community Foundation for Surrey, Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum and Active Surrey to help develop the Support Group and from humble beginnings there were over 50 people in attendance when we visited.

It was a pleasure to be joined by Beccy Bowden from the Community Foundation for Surrey and Neelam Devesher from Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum who both addressed those gathered voicing their support. Abdul Hamid should be justifiably proud, together with his other trustees, for the wonderful supportive community they have created and the safe space and joyful camaraderie that the Maybury Support Group promotes.