Page 3 - link magazine

Building a more family friendly society 3

1994 has been designated Interna- Here, the UK Association for In- The overall UK theme for the year These recognise the challenges
tional Year of the Family by the ternational Year of the Family, is 'Family Resources and Responsi- facing families today, indudingem-
United Nations, aiming to stimu- chaired by Joanna Foster, president bilities in a changing world' and the ployment, unemployment, money,
late international, national and lo- of Relate, is coordinating the year. three interrelated issues are: leisure, education, inequality and
cal awareness of the issues facing People from voluntary organisa- • families and work the changing roles of women and
families in the nineties. Nearly 100 tions, as well as business and educa- • families, poverty and resources men, health, housing, transport,
countries are involved. tion are involved. • families and relationships safety and the benefits system
among many.

Has your family been helped?

UNITED NOTIONS
INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF THE FAMILY
1994
By Thamesdown Relate Coordinator Jane Lewis
As part of its involvement in International Year of the Family, Thamesdown Relate has
teamed up with The Link magazine to give families a chance to 'say a little thank you',
We would like to give Link readers the opportunity to say how their family
has been helped or supported by someone special over the past year.

YOU can do this by nominating somebody from YOU may be a single parent, or someone who is
your local community. You may wish to thank caring for a sick or disabled partner, or alterna- Jane Lewis of Thamesdown Relate
someone for an unexpected act of kindness, or tively a parent of teenagers, or family where The Year aims to be a catalyst for
someone whom you may have to rely on to help mum and dad work alternate shifts and so have building a more family friendly so-
and support your family on a longer term basis. to rely on childcare. Maybe your family consists ciety, to celebrate family life in all its
There may be someone in your community of a working mum and dad is involved in full variety and complexity, and to take
whom you admire for the work they do in time child care. We would be interested to hear a serious look at the support and
support of family life. how you get your support. encouragement today's families
need.
THAT person could be a caring professional, SIMPLY write us a note saying who you wish to Relate sees the Year as a chance to
say, a doctor, district nurse or teacher, or some- nominate and explain how they have helped build on its experience of working
one from a voluntary group or charity. your family.
with over 70,000 families a year na-
ALTERNATIVELY you may wish to nominate EACH month Relate will choose someone to be tionally.
someone from your own family, perhaps a grand- featured in The Link and a thank you gift will be Locally, Thamesdown Relate is
parent, aunt/uncle, brother/sister or cousin. presented courtesy ofAsda and West End Flow- joining forces with The Link maga-
ers of Rodbourne. zine to 'say a little thank you'.
MAYBE a neighbour or friend has been really Jane Lewis, Centre manager of
helpful to your family or someone from a local Send your nominations to: ThamesdownRelate says, "We want
business who might have gone out of their way to 'Say a Little Thank You,' Thamesdown Relate to give readers the chance to nomi-
help. 79 Eastcott Hill, Swindon SN1 3JF nate a person who has been sup-
portive to their family. By asking
RELATE people to describe the help they have
received, we should be able to get a
Bosnia appeal clearer picture of the kinds of sup-
port families need."
Iii 1ik M%t' The International Family Group is Each month, Relate will choose
collecting desperately needed food someone to be featured in The Link
Published by "The Link was first published in to send to Bosnian refugee camps. and a thank you gift will be pre-
West Swindon Publications December 1978 exclusively for The next convoy is scheduled for sented, with the kind assistance of
13 Castle Dore, Freshbrook the West Swindon community. 1 April. If you can help, call Shala Asda and West End Flowers.
Swindon SN5 8PQ It is completely independent of Davapanah on 872853. We hope you will feel able to join
Link Centre and, in fact, won a • Letter of thanks from the inand 'say a little thankyou'to some-
Tel: (0793) 872282 competition to name the leisure refugees camp on page 22. body who has helped your family.
Editorial: Roger Ogle, centre in 1984.
"The magazine is entirely
Publisher/Editor Evening Advertiser corrected
self-supporting from advertising."
Advertising Sales: - continued from front page
Contents

Tel: (0793) 872282 4 "I am upset that a few comments Mark Thomas said the idea for
Toothill
Freshbrook & Grange Park
Apple Macintosh design, 5 from a twenty minutes interview West Swindon Family Project first
Westlea
layout and lasersetting 6 have been blown up out of all pro- came about in 1979 because
Shaw
Printed by Wiltshire, Bristol 7 portion. In fact, unless a woman has Thamesdown Borough Counciland
Haydon Wick
8
Published monthly. 10 At Your Library friends to introduce her to commu- Wiltshire Social Services recognised

Copy date for March 11-13 Swindon Wide What's On nity groups, a young baby can cre- the need to support isolated families
14 Recreation ate isolation. There are around 50 as the town expanded in the west.
edition: 14 February
Letters to The Link
22 under 5s groups and groups for "1 was sorry to have been quoted
The March edition will be 22 Link small ads women in West Swindon to join in." within the story. It is very disap-

published on 25 February. 23 Local Lives Pam thought couples were more pointing that Hazel Christie's work
The contents of The Link are protected by copyright. Copying of advertisements for likely to delay having children if had to be distorted in this way. Her
business use, including publication is forbidden unless advertisers or publishers have they were in mortgage arrears so research is a positive attempt to find
sought permission. Articles and photographs require similar authority. that they did not add to their finan- out how families cope with mort-
cial difficulties. gage problems."