Carols by Candlelight December 2026
Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford
Save the date!
Our carol service will take place on Thursday, 3rd December, 2026 at Holy Trinity, Long Melford
Sailing Day at Royal Harwich Yacht Club, Woolverstone
Sailing Day at Royal Harwich Yacht Club, Woolverstone
This year no arguments with my sat nav to miss out on what was a great day last year! With water divination wands I headed for the clubhouse. I found the water on a very beautiful day, everyone was buzzing with the same energy as a school trip. Everything moved smoothly; refreshments and delicious meals available at the clubhouse and we all got on and off whichever boat safely when it was our turn to go out onto the river. The Woolverstone Project volunteers that took us up and down the river Orwell were very knowledgeable and entertaining, giving us a great day out and it was lovely to feel like a tourist. A tremendous day out and so glad I made it this year. I cannot thank all involved enough, please take a well-earned bow – you are all marvellous.
Autumn Term 2026
Autumn Term 2026
Starts Tuesday 1st Sept
Tuesday 1 September
Term starts
Nails
Wednesday 2 September
Art starts
Tuesday 8 September
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Wednesday 9 September
Blood Donors Day: No Art Group
Friday 18 September
Talk with Abbie Mitchell from the Co-op:
Tax, Care and Toys Boys
Friday 25 September
Nails
Sunday 11 October
Whatfield Craft Fair
Friday 16 October
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Tuesday 20 October
Nails
Friday 23 October
Housekeeping Committee
Friday 30 October
Nails
Tuesday 3rd November
Talk with Pip Wright: The Notorious Whistlecraft Family of Rickinghall
Friday 13 November
Nails
Trustees Meeting
Tuesday 17 November
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Tuesday 24 November
RocknRoll Panto at Wolsey Theatre
Friday 27 November
Nails
Tuesday 1st December
Refresher First Aid for First Aiders
Thursday 3 December
SAS Carol Service at Long Melford
Friday 4 December
Nails
Friday 11 December
End of Term: Christmas Lunch at Bulmer Fox
Carers Meeting: short. All welcome
Diary Dates 2027
Tuesday 5 January
Spring Term Starts
Wednesday 6th January
Art starts
Tuesday 9 February
Pancake Day
Friday 19 March
End of Term
Tuesday 13 April
Summer Term Starts
Wednesday 15 April
Art Starts
Tuesday 19 May
AGM
Tuesday 13 July
Sailing Day at Woolverstone
Friday 30 July
End of Term
Weekly Schedule
- Regular activities at The Stevenson Centre EVERY Tuesday & Friday commencing at 9.30 am – 12 noon from Tuesday 1 September 2026 unless otherwise stated. Please be aware these activities can be subject to change.
- PHYSIOTHERAPY: Every Tuesday & Friday mornings at 9.30 am - 12.00 noon with Jeanette or Nick for individual help. Boot Camp (Chair exercises) 9.30 am—10.15 am on Tuesday and Friday.
- SALT: Every Tuesday at 11.00 am for conversation group & Friday at 9.30 am for conversation group and 11.00 am for Discussion Group with Chris and Clare.
- WELLBEING THERAPY: Pam Lawrence will be with us on Tuesdays and Friday (by appointment only) and will offer meditation group 10.15—10.30 am before coffee on Tuesdays.
- CARERS MEETINGS: Carers meetings organised with Fran and Lynne—see calendar dates above.
- ART GROUP: Every Wednesday at The Stevenson Centre with Marnie, Bridget and others. New members always welcome.
- GUITAR MAN – Richard: Every Friday from 11.00 am – 12.00 noon for singing group.
- BRAIN TRAINING & COGNITIVE THERAPY: Games & quizzes on Tuesday at 11.00 am - 12.00 noon.
- NAILS: Please book your slot with a volunteer on the day that either Sam or Sally come in. Voluntary contributions are very welcome.
Carols by Candlelight
What people said…..
Wow what a wonderful evening. Beautiful singing, great variety of choir, ensembles, readings and great input from members of SAS , volunteers, staff etc. So lovely to have such great singing in that lovely church! The church looked beautiful with the greenery and candles. All together a lovely evening to get in the Christmas spirit with an amazing full church.
Member
Congratulations on a wonderful carol service yesterday. The church looked beautiful with the candles and greenery and the choir and readers were wonderful
Member
Gainsborough House Exhibition
SAS Brushstrokes Celebrate Gainsborough’s 300th Anniversary with a Special Exhibition
20th April – 10th May 2027
Success After Stroke (SAS) Brushstrokes is delighted to announce a special mini exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Gainsborough, one of Britain’s greatest artists.
The exhibition will be held from 20th April until 10th May next year 2027 at the front of the beautiful Gainsborough’s House Museum in Sudbury, Suffolk, the birthplace of the renowned painter.
The exhibition will showcase a wonderful collection of drawings and paintings created by members of the SAS Brushstrokes art group. Every week, our stroke survivors come together to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of art in classes led by Marnie and her dedicated team of volunteers. Their encouragement, patience and enthusiasm have helped members grow in confidence while discovering and developing their artistic talents.
Visitors will be amazed by the creativity, determination and skill on display. Each artwork tells its own story and reflects the remarkable achievements of artists who have overcome the challenges of stroke through friendship, perseverance and the joy of painting.
The exhibition is free to enter, and everyone is warmly invited to come along, enjoy the artwork and celebrate both the legacy of Thomas Gainsborough and the inspiring achievements of our SAS Brushstrokes artists.
There will be lots to see, and we are incredibly proud of the fantastic work our class has produced. We hope you will join us in supporting these talented artists and celebrating the power of creativity, recovery and community.
Venue: Front of Gainsborough’s House Museum, Sudbury, Suffolk
Admission: Free
Summer Term 2026
Summer Term 2026
Starts Tuesday 14th April
Wednesday 15 April
Art starts
Friday 17 April
Nails
Tuesday 21 April
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Friday 1 May
Talk: Pip Wright
Finding out about history through old newspapers
Wednesday 6 May
No Art – Blood Donors day
Tuesday 12 May
Members Committee 9.30-10.30 am
Croquet 12.00—4.00 pm. Sudbury Croquet Club
Friday 15 May
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Nails
Tuesday 19 May
AGM 10.00 am Coffee followed by meeting
Fish’n’chip lunch will be provided
Tuesday 26 May
Nails
Friday 29 May
Members Committee 9.30-10.30am
Croquet 12.00-4.00 pm. Sudbury Croquet Club
Friday 5 June
Nails
Tuesday 16 June
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Friday 16 June
Talk: Colin Chapman Chairman of HMS Ganges
Friday 26 June
Housekeeping Meeting 12.15 p.m.
Thursday 2nd July
Volunteers & Therapists Lunch by kind invitation of Jo-Jo Morrissey at The Old Rectory, Monks Eleigh
Friday 3 July
Lunch at Henny Swan 12.30pm
Tuesday 14 July
Sailing Day at Woolverstone
No SAS at Stevenson Centre
Tuesday 21 July
Trustees Meeting 12.15 pm
Friday 24 July
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Darren’s Quiz
End of Term
Diary Dates
Tuesday 1 September
Autumn Term Starts
Wednesday 2 September
Art Group Starts
Wednesday 9 September
No Art—Blood Donor Day
Friday 11 December
End of Term
Weekly Schedule
- Regular activities at The Stevenson Centre EVERY Tuesday & Friday commencing at 9.30 am – 12 noon from Tuesday 6 January - Friday 27 March 2026 unless otherwise stated. Please be aware these activities can be subject to change.
- PHYSIOTHERAPY: Every Tuesday & Friday mornings at 9.30 am - 12.00 noon with Jeanette or Nick for individual help. Boot Camp (Chair exercises) 9.30 am—10.15 am on Tuesday and Friday.
- SALT: Every Tuesday at 11.00 am for conversation group & Friday at 9.30 am for conversation group and 11.00 am for Discussion Group with Chris and Clare.
- WELLBEING THERAPY: Pam Lawrence will be with us on Tuesdays and Friday (by appointment only) from 6th January to 3rd March and will offer meditation group 10.15—10.30 am before coffee. Pam will be on extended holiday after 3 March until the beginning of summer term.
- CARERS MEETINGS: Carers meetings organised with Fran and Lynne—see calendar dates above.
- ART GROUP: Every Wednesday at The Stevenson Centre with Marnie, Bridget and others. New members always welcome.
- GUITAR MAN – Richard: Every Friday from 11.00 am – 12.00 noon for singing group.
- BRAIN TRAINING & COGNITIVE THERAPY: Games & quizzes on Tuesday at 11.00 am - 12.00 noon.
- NAILS: Please book your slot with a volunteer on the day that either Sam or Sally come in. Voluntary contributions are very welcome.
BrushStroke Festival of Art
SAS Brushstrokes Exhibition is back!
Saturday 14th March – Saturday 21st March, Sudbury
In March a very special Brushstrokes 2026 was held at the Sudbury Arts Centre, featuring art by our own members together with a number of local artists which raised over a staggering £20k.
Andy Walsh, the Sudbury Mayor, was welcomed during our Member’s coffee morning. The following day we were fortunate to have Frances Christie of Sotheby’s to come and give a fascinating talk about the Value of Art at the well-attended lunch.
At the preview evening, our new Chairman, Edward Mason thanked Lizzie Alston and the Brushstrokes Committee for working so hard with collating and setting up the artist’s work and excelling with this year’s wonderful exhibition.
Setting up the exhibition
Preview Evening
Members coffee morning
Fundraising lunch with Frances Christie
Spring Term 2026
Spring Term 2026
Starts Tuesday 6th January
Wednesday 7 January
Art starts
Friday 16 January
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Nails
Tuesday 27 January
Music with Patricia Mason 11.00am—12.00 noon
We would love it for all members to try and attend.
Tuesday 10 February
Moving & Handling/Safeguarding/SALT:
All Vols to attend
Lunch 12.00 –12.45 pm Training 12.45—4.30 pm
Tuesday 17 February
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Nails
Pancake Day!
Wednesday 18 February
No Art – Blood Donors day
Friday 20 February
Friday Members Committee 9.30 am
Tuesday 24 February
Tuesday Members Committee 9.30am
Friday 27 February
Nails
Tuesday 3 March
Housekeeping 12.15pm
Wednesday 11 March
No Art — Brushstrokes setting up
Brushstrokes Opening Night: Sudbury Arts Centre (St. Peter’s Church)
Tuesday 17 March
Brushstrokes Members Morning 9.30– 12.00 noon Sudbury Arts Centre (St. Peter’s Church)
No session at Stevenson Centre
Friday 20 March
Carers Meeting 9.30 am—12.00 noon. All welcome
Nails
Sunday 22 March
Brushstrokes ends
Tuesday 24 March
Trustees Meeting 12.15pm
Friday 27 March
Beauty & the Beast: tbc
Friday 28 November
End of Term
Diary Dates
Tuesday 14 April
Summer Term Starts
Wednesday 15 April
Art Starts
Tuesday 19 May
AGM
Tuesday 14 July
Sailing Day at Woolverstone
Friday 24 July
End of Term
Weekly Schedule
- Regular activities at The Stevenson Centre EVERY Tuesday & Friday commencing at 9.30 am – 12 noon from Tuesday 6 January - Friday 27 March 2026 unless otherwise stated. Please be aware these activities can be subject to change.
- PHYSIOTHERAPY: Every Tuesday & Friday mornings at 9.30 am - 12.00 noon with Jeanette or Nick for individual help. Boot Camp (Chair exercises) 9.30 am—10.15 am on Tuesday and Friday.
- SALT: Every Tuesday at 11.00 am for conversation group & Friday at 9.30 am for conversation group and 11.00 am for Discussion Group with Chris and Clare.
- WELLBEING THERAPY: Pam Lawrence will be with us on Tuesdays and Friday (by appointment only) from 6th January to 3rd March and will offer meditation group 10.15—10.30 am before coffee. Pam will be on extended holiday after 3 March until the beginning of summer term.
- CARERS MEETINGS: Carers meetings organised with Fran and Lynne—see calendar dates above.
- ART GROUP: Every Wednesday at The Stevenson Centre with Marnie, Bridget and others. New members always welcome.
- GUITAR MAN – Richard: Every Friday from 11.00 am – 12.00 noon for singing group.
- BRAIN TRAINING & COGNITIVE THERAPY: Games & quizzes on Tuesday at 11.00 am - 12.00 noon.
- NAILS: Please book your slot with a volunteer on the day that either Sam or Sally come in. Voluntary contributions are very welcome.
Operetta performed by Keith Lewis
SAS Event 2025 – Operetta performed by Keith Lewis
14th September Priory Hall, Hadleigh
A Concert and picnic tea took place on 14th September at Priory Hall, Hadleigh. The marvellous tenor, Keith Lewis, sang magnificently with Andrew Leach on the piano. The narrator was Rebecca Goss . They told the story of the relationship between Clara Schumann, Robert Schuman and Johannes Brahams. Sadly Clara Schuman died of a stroke. The afternoon was a sell out and a huge success. £6,000 was raised for SAS.