Page 23 - link magazine

NEWS &VIEWS
23
Tiny items make big achievements for two playgroups

Barbara Sealey of the Pre-school Playgroup Association ,right, with children, parents Sister Linda Fitzjohn receives a cheque for £50 and £275 worth of toys from Julia
and staff from Upper Shaw Farm Playgroup in front of their matchbox display Ailing and the children from Link 3-5 playgroup
Two local playgroups have raised
large amounts of money using
matchboxes to do it with. NEED HELP OR
Upper Shaw Farm raised £616
by asking each their 76 children to
fit as many items as possible into a ADVICE ON
matchbox, raising as much spon-
sorship money along the way.
Each child received a small prize
for their efforts and special prizes BENEFITS IF PROBLEMS
were awarded to Lee Corcoran and
Nadia Jones who managed to pack YOU ARE WITH THE
in 101 and 99 items respectively.
Ashley Cresswell also received a DISABLED DSS
prize for raising £48, with a little
help from his mum. Altogether
£616 was raised.
Playgroup supervisor Lyn HOUSING FAMILY
Scragg said the money would be
spent on equipment, multi-cultural BENEFIT CREDIT
dressing up clothes and a camera
to record playgroup activities.
£100 was also given to the GAS OR
Thamesdown Branch of the Pre- DEBT
School Playgroups Association. ELECTRICITY
Receiving a cheque branch chair-
women Barbara Sealey said money BILLS GENERAL
would be used to support other
playgroups across the town. ADVICE
The Link 3-5 Playgroup also used
the matchbox idea to raise even HOUSING ABOUT
more money. The 80 children who
attend the group in the week had to BENEFITS
ollect just 20 items. £650 was raised
• nd split equally between the play- RENT
roup and the Cherhill Paediatric
Isolation Ward at PMH. ARREARS POLL TAX
Receiving the cheque, Ward Sis-
er Linda Fitzjohn said there was If so, you have an Advice Point in your area where
lways a need for strong toys which you can get help and advice with these things.
an be washed and sterilised.
Children in isolation need a lot of
.timulation as they don't have CALL IN AT YOUR LOCAL ADVICE POINT AT:
ontact with others. Donations of
ood quality toys are always wel-
omed." TOOTHILL ADVICE POINT WEST SWINDON ADVICE POINT
Playgroup supervisor Hilary TOOTHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE WEST SWINDON FAMILY PROJECT
unter said the children had been DUNWICH DRIVE 15 GAINSBOROUGH WAY
volved from fundraising to sug- TOOTHILL FRESHBROOK
.esting toys, to hand printing the OPEN: TUESDAY 1000a.m. - 12 noon OPEN: MON, WED, FRI 10a.m. - 12 noon
ra pping pa per. Several had broth-
rs or sisters who had spent time in
e isolation ward and helping the Advice is free, confidential and independent of the DSS
ospital was a way of thanking the
aff for caring so much.