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P. 68
FRESHBROOK HALLOWEEN DANCE **' * A
C0H0C0*** -
Freshbrook Village Group Entertainments Comm-
ittee wish to extend a big 'thank you' to every- The Community Health Council is a "watch-dog'
one who came and made it a very successful organisation made up of ordinary people who
evening. Sorry we had to restrict numbers due give their time voluntarily to keep an eye on th
to lack of space. We're pleased everyone had Health Services and to take up complaints .Joyc
a good time and enjoyed themselves. Dole of 9 Rhuddlan, Toothill was recently appoi
ed a member.
All (#i iJn me to stand as a representative for the CHC, I
" When the Toothill Residents Organisation aske
About tii went to one of their meetings to find out what it
was all about. That first meeting didn't mean
much but after several more and with visits to
hospitals and clinics plus reading reams of pap
about every aspect of the National Health Servic
I am learning fast. Other members, who are fr
voluntary bodies. local authorities and the Wes
If you're young these days, no-one seems to have Regional Health Authority have also been a gre
any time for you; but there is a place in Swindon
help to me
which specialises in giving time to young people. The CHC has one aim - to act on behalf of the resi-
YAC, the Youth Advisory Centre at 2 Fleet Street dents of the whole of the Swindon Health District
is run by volunteers who know that young people 'j ust the wesendevelopment!) Any matter concernin
can't always get the time they need. Friends, the National Health Service concerns the CHC.
parents, teachers, careers officers, doctors etc. The investigation of individual complaints is a
are often too busy to help find out things they 'matter for the Health Authority but the Community
want to know, or to talk over feelings and what Health Council is able to act "as a friend" give
they ought to do. advice and assist in how and where to lodge
complaints. I will keep you in touch with develo
" When I walked in the other evening, I was
greeted with a friendly smile and a warm 'Can I ments out here
help you?' I soon felt at ease and was chatting LINK DATES
about all sorts of things. Nobody asked me to
fill out a form, or pay money-these people seem- The next Link will be published in the last week
ed to want to talk to me and were interested in of January 1982. Please send material for public
what I had to say. I wondered howeasy it was ation by 14th January to G. richmond 23 Luddes
for young person to talk aboutanything down, R.Ogle 13 Castle Dore, J. Oliver 18 Des-
personal because of the danger of parents or borough, D.Potten 55 Ravenglass
someone else getting to find out. I was assured There will be a short Christmas information
that anything said within those 4 walls never sheet published during the second week of Dec-
went out. ember. Any relevant news to the above now.
Anyone can volunteer to work at YAC, but they
are very careful about choosing the people who POLICE *************',iI
work there. They look for people who can
understand young people, get on well with them The times when our local police station
and are able to help them. After selection, vol- are open have changed to suit the demands
unteers go through a 16 week training course. of the clientele. They are now:
What makes YAC different from anywhere else Mon - 08.30 - 09.30
is that no-one tells young people what they to Fri 1 8.00 - 19.00
do; they give them time to talk about themselves
Sat - 11.00 - 12.00
and how they feel about what's happening to
Sun 18.00 - 19.00
them so that they can decide for themselves
what would be the b-est -thing to do. Of course Police Constables Cox, Skillern and
Wadsworth would be more than happy to see
volunteers don't know everything, but they
you should you need them.
usually know where to find out if they can't
help immediately. YAC is open Tuesday 6.30-
8.30pm, Wed 4.30-7.30 Thurs.l0am-1.00pm
Fri. 10-1, Saturdays llam-2pm. Congratulations to David & Gillian Attwood on
the birth of their daughter Naomi on 4th Novemb
If you would like to be a volunteer at YAC, call
Laurence Yeoman on694263 for a chat."
