Mortimer Village Partnership

Mortimer Village Partnership (MVP) is an independent organisation that was set up by volunteers in 2009 as an outcome of the Parish Plan Refresh. The village had grown, people felt they didn't know a lot of people and there wasn't much happening in the village socially. The purpose of MVP is to involve people and groups in the life of the village, to improve communications, to connect people together and facilitate activities and events in order to enhance the lives of those who live and work in Mortimer and nearby.

So we help everyone in Mortimer! 

We provide: 

Communications: A free newsletter about what is going on in the village , written and delivered to every household by volunteers. A website about the village and its facilities. An administered Facebook Group which has nearly 5000 members and buzzes with lost dogs, next events, local news, volunteering opportunities as well as moaning about speeding, dog poo and other essentials of village life

Connecting people: At the outset we set up a number of new clubs and events; some clubs became independent from MVP and others are still a core part of what we do.  For example:

The MVP Lunch Club gives those  in advancing years, the opportunity to meet friends and share food. As such it plays a small, but vital role for many, to help relieve loneliness and prolong independence in later life by providing a meeting point for older people in the community.

Events:

MVP Theatre Trips organises affordable door to door trips to big West End shows and other theatres, enabling those not able to make their own way there to still enjoy top notch theatre and other visits like Houses of Parliament or Xmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall

Scarecrow Trail  MVP runs a regular Scarecrow Trail during Autumn Half term providing several thousand people with a very low cost activity which can take up most of  day with trail maps costing only £1, 35 or more scarecrows to see all over the village and prizes to be won for the trail quiz.

Mortimer Fun Day is our top event
THIS YEAR IT IS ON JULY 5th
- a free entry, full day  attracting upwards of 5000 people and taking over the Fairground on the first Saturday in July. The aim is always low-cost day out for families in Mortimer and the surrounding area including Arena events, local dance troops and other performers, Craft and Market row stalls, Fun Dog show, Classic cars ….and of course food outlets, refreshment and beer tents, Local organisations including Scouts, Sports Clubs, WI, Charities etc. have stalls to promote their organisations and also run games or activities for everyone to take part in games such as Welly-Wanging, Crockery smashing, Coconut shy, Netball competition, Hoola Hoops, Skittles; they are able to generate revenue for themselves. Local services such as Mortimer Fire Brigade and the local First Responders take part as do local church groups and the Parish Council.  It has become and will remain an all-inclusive event with something to appeal to every age and interest.

MVP does not aim to make money from the event bearing all the overheads of the event (with enormous support from and thanks to local sponsors) - insurance, marquee hire, PA Systems, security, toilet hire etc. as well as subsidising things like the large inflatable slides and games, and bungee trampoline so that the tickets are significantly cheaper than the usual commercial price. 

Village Theatre: Several times a year MVP arranges for a quality theatre company to bring a performance to the village. Ticket prices are as low as possible to just cover the cost. The opportunity for young and old to see top notch acting is much appreciated 

Affiliates: MVP is committed to “Enriching Village Life” and believes that having the widest range of vibrant and energetic local Clubs and Associations is a corner stone of that objective. In order to support this goal, MVP provides, for an annual fee of £10, a rich package of benefits to local groups who chose to become Affiliated Group Members, which includes:

• Priority space in our Newsletter, distributed three times a year to every household in Mortimer and some to surrounding villages (2000 copies)
• Prime space on the MVP Notice Board outside Budgens to publicise events.
• Promotion via the MVP Website and access to nearly 5000 local people via a range of Social Media platforms
• Fund Raising opportunities through participation in MVP events.
• Use of MVP logo to support their events.
• A wide range of Equipment is available to borrow, at MVP’s discretion plus an Affiliates’ library to facilitate lending between groups.
  

WE now have over 45 local groups affiliated to us. We offer support to anyone wishing to set up a new club or organisation in the village: hall hire fees for first few meetings, advice on grant applications, other help as required