Page 18 - link magazine

18 NEWS & VIEWS
Health Matters Your Local Family Project

Health Centre delay patient list can be established whilst The West Swindon Family Project (WSFP) has been helping families living in
West Swindon since late 1981. The Project was set up by Thamesdown
Progress on building West Swin- a permanent facility is built within Borough Council, Wiltshire CountySocialServicesandthe National Childrens'
don's Health Centre, next to the three years. Dr Houseman hopes Home. Project Leader John Jenkins describes the work done and asks
Link Centre, has been held up be- to have his temporary building in readers to join in the groups on offer, or to help out as a volunteer.
cause the electrical contractors has place by the end of September and
gone out of business. to open for business In October. Did you know that NCH is a
The centre which will become The new doctor's practice will major child care charity with
the main base for the local Health join the four already established in Ladies invite projects all over the country and
Visitor team, presently located in the area. The Wiltshire Family The West Swindon Ladies Club abroad? NCH manage the project.
cramped conditions at two houses Practioner Committee, which organises meetings twice a month and pay the two full time and one
in Toothill and other ancillary oversees family doctor services, on a wide range of topics and they part time workers.
health services, was supposed to declared West Swindon an open would like women right across the This means all its work can be
open in January 1991. area earlier this year. area to know about them. confidential as it is independent of
Now that the contract to finish Wheras new practices were re- the Borough and Local Authority.
the electrical work has to be re- e stricted from setting up, now any The WSFP is based in a house at 15
tendered
tendered for, It Is unlikely that the application to set up new practice Gainsborough Way, Freshbrook. It
centre will be ready until April. in the area will be supported by the has been there since 1985.
New GP by October FPC. The WSFP aims to help families
West Swinrl,t i Is to get another a Dentist at Shaw lead a more healthy and a more
doctor's st. 6 y following agree- A third dental practice has opened fulfilling life. It sets out to do this
ment in August by Thamesdown in the area, on the first floor of the by running drop-in groups, educa-
Council to m.ke land available. main shopping unit at Skew Vill- tional groups and training pro-
The site opposite the Lank Centre age Centre. Mr Christopher grams.
and the new Health Centre Is being Parkinson, who also practices In We of fer counselling and support
taken by Dr Houseman, who has a Pewsey, opened a surgery on 3 to those In difficulty There is a
practice in Brinkworth. September providing dental care welfare benefits advice point that
In the first Instance a temporary under the Denpian Scheme or pri- helps claimants and those in debt.
building will be erected so that a vate work Mainly the project Is there to give
Olivier Ford of Freshbrook meets people a chance to meet others and
Freckles on a visit to the Ladies Club on make friends over a cup of tea or
25 June. coffee.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RETURN Coming up: To help in this the project recruits
TO OFFICE WORK, BUT YOUR 17 Sept. Returning to work and trains all its own volunteers.
1 Oct. Glass engraving
Would you like to help us?
SKILLS ARE RUSTY TO 15 Oct. Skittles evening This autumn the project will be
29 Oct. AIDS running the following groups and
NON-EXISTANT? 12 Nov. Cake icing for christmas sessions:
26 Nov. Embroidery & Lace Monday.
Why not do a refresher or basic course The group meets in the Commu- 10a.m.-12 noon.
in typing, shorthand, audio, nity Room at Toothifi School and A support group for parents with
word processingfVDU new members are invited to join. children at junior school. Creche.
- tuition in small groups Formore information telephone the 10a.m.-12 noon. Advice point.
by qualified tutors. secretary Rachel Leighfield on Tuesday'
We will refund the cost! 872828. 10a.m.-12 noon. A coffee morning
atToothillChurch. Drop in. Creche.
Call ROWHEX STArT 10a.m.-12.30p.m. 'Better Halves'!
on Swindon 534997 for more details. Toddlers raise cash A group for single parents. Creche.
60 Victoria Road u,indon Eileen Sawyer writes Wednesday
Rompers Mother and Toddler 10a.m.-12 noon. Coffee morning,
Group, which meets at the Link open to anyone. Please drop in.
Centre, needed to raise money for Creche.
CARTER, GOVIER, READ toys and decided on a sponsored 10a.m.-12 noon. Advice point.
toddler obstacle course as the best 1.30p.rn.-2.45p.m. Volunteer train-
way of going about it. ing; creche provided.
SOLICITORS The Link Centre were very Thursday
helpful and we hired their mini- 10a.m.-12 noon. 'Breakaways', a
Contact us for all your legal needs gym which allowed us to have a group that plans its own program
wonderfully successful event. We of talks, demonstrations and visits.
including raised £330! Creche provided.
We found It an easy, quick and Fnday
house sales & purchases, fun way of raising money. The 10a.m.-12 noon. Advice point.
matrimonial matters and criminal law success is owed to all the Mums We are thinking of starting a sup-
and Dads who collected sponsor port group for parents of teenagers
money, and the toddlers who and a group for first time young
34 - 35 Commercial Road, Swindon climbed their way around the mothers in the autumn. If you are
course. Well done to all of you.
interested in any of these ideas or in
Tel: 617617 Wehavedonated £25 to the GWR joining in please contact the project
Walkathon Appeal. on 871303.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE LINK
IING ELIZABETH WOOD ON 871 79