Welcome to The FAN Charity message board. You can use this page to send messages to other FAN attenders and read what they have to say about The FAN Charity and other issues.
You can post your own message by using the form at the bottom of the page.
| Name | Message | Date posted |
| Jing Jing | Dear Friends: This Monday I could not go to the FAN Meeting in IKEA. I am very disappointed. Because of my foot bruised, I could not walk around. Walking is my favorite exercise. It keeps me fit and enjoy the good views while walking. Now I feel much better. I can go next Monday. I would like to go. I miss the people in the FAN Meeting. Everyone is nice and lovely. I miss them. Take care and have a good weekend. | 19th August, 2010 |
| Alex | I really have a good time with you in the FAN group, it feels like taking and listening in a big family. Hope to see your guys next time. | 1st August, 2010 |
| julie | It was great to see friends from the FAN Group at the International Day at Cardiff South Enterprise Centre a great time was had by everyone. Another Event is to be held at The Riverside Warehouse on Machen Place, Riverside, Cardiff. 11am - 3pm hope to see friends from FAN at this event. Lots of childrens activities and a free lunch. Come along | 30th July, 2010 |
| Anne | I really enjoyed going to FAN Meetings when I was in Cardiff. They helped me when I was unemployed as it was a way to get out of the house. Hope to start up FAN groups in Hemel Hempstead. If you would be interested in Hemel or live in London and could get to FAN Meeting - let the FAN Charity know. | 27th July, 2010 |
| Sami Jaber; Oasis FAN Rep | Dear all; Because of the summer school holiday. Oasis FAN Meeting will suspend from Tuesday 13th July 2010 and it will continue on Tuesday 7th September 2010. --- Have a nice summer holiday to everyone. | 8th July, 2010 |
| Sami Jaber - Oasis Meeting Rep. | About the change of the place for The FAN meeting at Oasis Drop-in Service. It has moved to the YMCA Centre, off The Parade Learning Centre. It's only 30 meters ahead from the old place (Tredevegale Baptist Church) For more information call Sami 07747 883963 or Email: Sami.Jaber2@Gmail.com | 7th July, 2010 |
| Jen | I thoroughly enjoyed Pontypridd's first FAN group meeting. It gave my day a real boost. Georgie & I are positive that it will grow and spread happiness in the community. | 25th June, 2010 |
| Barbara | The new group at Swansea is bringing in new people--today from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Portugal, Japan, Somalia and Zimbabwe as well as well as we Brits. It was fascinating to hear everyone talk on today's theme-- our first home as a child. We also talked a lot about the wonderful evening several of us had enjoyed yesterday when Swansea received official recognition as a City of Sanctuary, only the second in Britain. There was colourful dancing (from Africa and Sri Lanka) an international choir, poetry written by refugees and a play. | 22nd June, 2010 |
| Neha | Hello, I am Neha. I am new in the Fan Group. Every week we meet new persons in the FAN Groups. Last Monday was so interisting for me. Because i met two laday Who work in enterprise. They were very helpful for us. After Monday on Wednesday I met again Gill it was so great experince because on that day I talked with Gill a lots of about her country & our country culture. And our frieady meeting was also some different during this meeting we talked about coumpter there every one has given different opinion. | 20th June, 2010 |
| Jill | I went to Bristol too - a great place for a FAN Group. Jayne runs 'THE SHOP' at 19 Christmas Steps. It is a wonderful part of old Bristol - really worth going to. But the welcome from Lynda and Jayne was the best - warmth when you are not used to the City is the very best of welcomes. We are looking forward to coming again. | 18th June, 2010 |
| Zahra | Hi, How wonderful to see the spread of FAN and friendship. And now FAN in Bristol it is wonderful. I went to the FAN group in Bristol on Wednesday. Lynda and Jayne are running the FAN in Bristol. They were very welcoming and kind. I realy enjyed it and we had a very good meeting there. I would like to say thank so much to Lynda and Jayne and very nice to meet our Cardiff friend Hugh because I had missed him. See you all again soon! | 18th June, 2010 |
| Saturday FAN | Great to see Simon is in Seoul with Chris. We miss them both and look forward to seeing them back in Saturday FAN. Gill had emails from Simon - Seoul looks great - I'd love to visit! | 9th June, 2010 |
| simon farrow | Hello to FAN from Simon in Seoul South Korea. I'm staying with Chris' family for a week and a half and its day five. Weather is like the warmest day in Britain. Chris' family is very welcoming and we have been around Seoul city and on a train day trip to an old historic market and through amazing countryside - many huge mountains covered in green forest.I recommend Korea as journey to anyone - get in some chopstick practice now. | 3rd June, 2010 |
| The new Wednesday IKEA FAN | Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed FAN at IKEA this morning. A very nice couple Enid and her husband joined us and they told us that they had met out in the middle east. Enid's husband was an airline pilot. We do hope they will come again. | 26th May, 2010 |
| FAN attender | How wonderful to see the spread of friendship that is happening through our simple FAN meetings! This week I heard about a Brazilian friend who was going to London and had been offered a place to stay by another attender who had moved to London a few months ago. In the same week another FAN attender who is a native of Cardiff told me he had been invited to Seoul in South Korea to meet the family of a new friend he had met through FAN. This is truly FRIENDS ACROSS NATIONS - (FAN) Keep coming and spread the news about FAN to anyone you know. The only requirement is that you are friendly and willing to listen quietly to each person who comes until it is your turn. The rewards are wonderful. A large collection of very different and supportive people from all sorts of backgrounds. | 16th May, 2010 |
| Ricardo | Hi, congratulations to all those who contributed and have been contributing for the growth of FAN. It is amazing to see how FAN is spreading across the UK and and I am sure it will very soon become a reality in different countries. FAN is a simple and very intelligent idea with tremendous positive consequences for all those involved in it. FAN improves people's quality of life as far as their psychological and emotional needs are concerned. Have a goal ! Ricardo | 3rd May, 2010 |
| Thursday Penylan FAN attender | I enjoyed Penylan FAN this week - we had an AM and a Parliamentary candidate join us and just took part in the group like the rest. More politicians could join community groups like this so we see their human side. Great to have two newcomers who brought us some delicious Iranian sweets! That was a special surprise. | 18th April, 2010 |
| Grangetown FAN attender | Many of us were very sad to hear of the sudden passing of Obadi. Different FAN attenders had spoken to him only the day before. We know it must have been a terrible shock for our friend Khadiga, his wife and Noor his daughter who is a Saturday FAN attender as well as his other children and family and I am sure those who met Obadi will want to pass on our sympathies and our warm memories of Obadi who was such a strong character and so well liked. | 26th March, 2010 |
| Sami Jaber- Oasis Meeting Rep. | For Easter Holiday the FAN meeting at Oasis Drop-in at Tredegrville Church will stop for Tuesdays 30 March & 6 April | 11th March, 2010 |
| Sami Jaber- Oasis Meeting Rep. | We changed the meeting time of The FAN meeting at Oasis Drop-in at Tredegarville Church. The new time is 1-2 pm. Please use the side door & go to up staris hall. For more information call Sami 07747883963 or E-mail: Sami.Jaber2@Gmail.com. Come to listen and share an interesting chat & have a free cup of tea & a dish of delicious soup. | 9th March, 2010 |
| Saturday FAN attender | Israel, Zahra and I went to Tuesday FAN in Swansea at the Q Meeting House. It was great! We really felt welcome. After we went down to the beach - what a wonderful sea front for a town! Thanks everyone for giving us a good time! | 20th February, 2010 |
| Sami | I'd like to announce that the Fan meeting in Tredegarville Church continues from next Tuesday 23 February in weeks following at the same time 12.30-1.30 pm. Come to share listening and an interesting chat & have a cup of tea & a dish of delicious soup. from Sami | 19th February, 2010 |
| JingJing Jiang | Dear everyone of the FAN Group: I am in China now. Today it is on the Eve of the Chinese New Year. I am busy with preparing the meal.Traditional food is dumpling, i.e. Jiaozi. Here a lot of greeting cards are attached. Hopefully you will like them. Meanwhile let you share all the happiness with us. The attached 1 is a picture of tiger. This year is tiger year. All symbols are based on tiger. I am sorry I did not know I can not send these cards with this message. Later I will send them to Gill and let her put it on. Anyway Happy New Year. Wish all the happiness and best wishes will be with you. See you soon | 13th February, 2010 |
| Margo | Hi, everyone, When I waited for my bus today after our meeting I met up with my gardener and his wife. I told them where I'd been and all about FAN. They said that their son might like to come one Saturday,and so, after watching the RUGBY(SOB,SOB) I pulled myself together, found a FAN leaflet and will post it to my gardener tomorrow.Ciao a tutti! Margo. | 6th February, 2010 |
| David N | FAN groups have changed my life. I first encounted a FAN group by chance over a year ago when I was invited to "Space For You" in Trinity Church, Newport Road, Cardiff. A FAN meeting is one of the regular activities there. I now go regularly to three FAN meetings a week and occasionally to more. Before FAN groups and with my family living miles away, my life was very self centred. Now, I feel I have a local family of many nationalities, which helps me and I help to feel more engaged with our multicultural community. We are all friendly. I have made several close friends. If anyone reading this feels lonely and/or friendless, I highly recommend you to join a FAN group or, if there isn't one easily accessible to you, try to start one in your own locality. | 15th January, 2010 |
| Megan | I am sorry I could not come to the Fan meeting on January 2nd as I have been snowed in since Dec.20th. This also caused us to delay the starting of Ebbw Vale FAN Groups until January 27,28th- we hope the snow will have gone by then- at present it is still snowing heavily! | 13th January, 2010 |
| Sami Jaber | I attended last meeting in Charless St. It was very nice meeting, Thanks for your delicious dinner. Thanks to all my friends in FAN | 12th January, 2010 |
| Ricardo | Hi all friends from FAN, Thank you very much for the kind words below. I miss you all very much! Thanks for sending good vibes to my dad too. I have just arrived from the beach where I stayed for 7 days, I had a very nice time in this town called "Porto Seguro", which means Safe Port in English, it was where the Portuguese navy arrived in Brazil in 1500...this place has many beautiful landscapes. I hope to see you all soon. Thanks again and all the best. Ricardo | 10th January, 2010 |
| We had a great lunch party today at Saturday FAN Group. Ruby brought delicious onion bhajis and we had delicious home made somosas sent along by Khadiga. We were all so pleased to see Lubaid home from College. Zahra and Gill had made a delicious vegetable and chilli bean soup and Zahra made an Iranian dessert with the word FAN on it in cinnamon. Margo was dancing away to southern Italian music and we all enjoyed the Iranian dance music and were taught how to dance to it. We played some Brazilian music in honour of our friend Ricardo who was not able to be with us. We hope you are enjoying the sun on your holiday in Brazil Ricardo and send good wishes to your Dad for his operation and to all your family. We love you Ricardo! Everyone brought loads of food. Thanks friends - it was a great event. Special thanks to all the men and women who helped clear away. We missed you Jan - where are you? Hope you are well - and Jonie! Best wishes to all good FAN friends from Saturday Group! See you next Saturday! | 9th January, 2010 | |
| Safaa | FAN Group is a beautiful small world, I’m from Yemen and have been in Cardiff from August 2005 till April 2006 studying English. During the period, FAN Group gave me a good opportunity to meet a lots of people from many counties: Iran, Poland, Yemen, Wales, Armenia, Pakistan etc… I think in this short period I had a wonderful family form all the world, and felt there is no limit prevents our Contacts as Friends And Neighbours. Thanks for all of my friends in FAN Group, and I hope to meet you again. | 3rd January, 2010 |
| Zahra | My name is Zahra. I am from Iran. I have been in the UK about 6 years and have been involved with FAN Groups for 4 years. I would like to tell everyone how lucky I am to have this opportunity to be with FAN. I was very lonely before I met FAN Groups and my English was very poor. It was very hard to live where you don't know the people, language and culture and there is nothing to do. After I found FAN I had many friends who are very kind and helpful to me. Now I have a friend like Joycey who has helped me a lot specially when my parents are with me. My parents usually come to visit me every 2 years. Joycey she usually takes them out around Cardiff to show them how nice it is where I live. The other friends such as Shirley, Roswitha and Gill who are so kind to me and I've been improving my English with them. Now I think how lucky I am to have friends like them. By the way, I have a friend Kit who says she she is my grandma and she said 'I am proud of you." Also, I don't feel lonly any more. I also would like to say 'Thank you very much for everything and I very much appreciate FAN and FAN friends. | 15th December, 2009 |
| An IKEA FAN attender | IKEA FAN is great if you get a chance to come along. You will see a group of people of different backgrounds sitting there on Thursdays as you go into the restaurant. They are having help with English. At 11.00 the FAN Meeting is started. We'd be so pleased if you just come and join us. You can recognise the FAN Meeting because we will be holding large cards with the opening and closing of the meeting. We are always so pleased to have someone new. | 15th November, 2009 |
| Saturday FAN attender | I looked at the film about the FAN Group just now. It is quite nice. I am very impressed by this film. I wish I could join it. Everyone there looks like an actor or actress. I think it be good experience for them. They knew how the film was going on. It will be a good memory. I like the FAN Group. It looks like a big family. Gill is my first friend I made since I came to the UK in 2007. She is my best friend and good listener. I would like to talk with her whatever bad news or good ones. She is always available whenever I need her help. I love her. I love the FAN Group. |
5th November, 2009 |
| Ricardo | I have just watched the FAN video for the first time and I liked it very much. The background music diminished the uneasiness of the group regarding the camera and crew and gave it a very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The quality of filming was outstanding and it was very well divided into meaningful sections. Most importantly, all the participants seemed to have enjoyed the meeting very much as they always do!! Congratulations to Amy and Gill!! Ricardo |
3rd November, 2009 |
| Samuel Osei Amoah | I wont you to be my friend | 27th October, 2009 |
| Sarah Saturday FAN Group | My name is Sarah and I am a Primary teacher in the London Borough of Newham. I first attended a FAN meeting in 2003 when I was an ESOL teacher in Cardiff. I worked alongside other ESOL tutors who had become increasingly aware that people from different cultures were finding it difficult to meet people from the local community. Many students attending classes felt lonely and they were finding it difficult to practise their English outside of the classroom. The FAN meetings have changed all of that. They have made it possible for people from all over the world to come together and share their life experiences in a caring and respectful environment. People are able to form a better understanding of the lives of others. Due to my work I am only able to attend FAN meetings when I visit Cardiff during the holidays. Each time I have attended a meeting I have always been warmly welcomed with friendly handshakes and smiles. People feel able to talk about their lives to people they have never met before because of the strong ethos of the group. It is fantastic to see many people from Cardiff who are meeting and talking to people from other countries for the first time. I believe the FAN meetings are breaking down barriers and changing people's lives for the better. I wish there could be many more FAN groups set up all over the country to help bring more communities closer together. |
4th October, 2009 |
| Saturday FAN member | You can meet so many people of different ages and backgrounds if you come regularly to Saturday FAN. Anyone can come along when they want to and no worry if they cannot. What a great group of people - it gives you hope for the world. People who are willing to give everyone a fair chance and be friendly are welcome! We love new people - so why not come. Come at 10.30 is best. Meeting only lasts one hour! | 10th September, 2009 |
| Fred Ashmore | New FAN group starting in Kingston Upon Thames from 3rd January 2009. Please spread the word! Venue Quaker Meeting House, 78 Eden St, KT1 1DJ; Saturdays, 11 am to 12 noon. Contact for more info, me on 07976 299721. | 13th December, 2008 |
| Rebecca | it's been lovely to get to know the people at FAN a little bit more, each time I visit Cardiff. A whole different community has opened up that has made Cardiff a much more interesting/dynamic/friendly and social place. | 31st October, 2008 |
| Margaret | I think we are helping to make a better world. Everyone who comes is saying 'I'd like to meet you and hear what you think and feel'. Everyone who comes is giving one hour of their time to others. There may be a day when any one of us - needs other friendly human beings - if we know we can go to a FAN Group meeting it can make a huge difference. When I have not gone - I've missed it. Sometimes I have gone when I didn't feel like it because I felt low - but it always made me feel better afterwards and I wa glad I went. | 25th October, 2008 |
| Amy | Since starting the job as FAN Development Officer, I have been made to feel so welcome by the FAN family! I felt very nervous starting the job, but everyone has been so kind and friendly! Thank you all for being supportive! The FAN Groups are making a huge difference to the community. I am so happy to be a part of the FAN Groups! x | 13th October, 2008 |
| Jason | The fan group is like our family. I meet so many kindness friends here. Everyone is welcome to join the fan group. | 11th October, 2008 |
| Gill | I have made the most amazing friends since coming to the FAN Groups. We realise every one of us is giving one hour of our time to each other and the community by coming. I always feel better after I have been to a FAN Meeting - even if I didn't feel like going - it just helps me to know there are so many really kind and caring people in the world. It is great when someone new comes - no-one has to come every week. Everyone gets a chance to speak - it is surprising how you get to know someone even though they only get two or three minutes to speak when it is their turn. I hope more and more people come - we are getting an amazing network of people who can really restore your faith in humanity. | 9th October, 2008 |