Page 34 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • September 1998
34
Carer centre calls for help Special awards created to recognise

Do you regularly provide emotional or practical support for a friend, Swindon volunteer effort
neighbour or relative who would be unable to cope without your
The work of local volunteers and volunteering organisations is to be
help, writes volunteer coordinator Maggie Davison, below.
If so, the Carers' drop-in centre is available to recognised in a special category at the Whitbread Volunteering
support you. Organised by the Swindon Focus on Action Awards, thanks to the efforts of Swindon Volunteers, Allied
Carers and Self Help, the drop-in centre is situated Dunbar and the Swindon Marriott Hotel.
at 25 Morley Street, Swindon and is open every Awards of £100 each will be don Marriott would be delighted
Tuesday and Wednesday from lOam to 1pm. made to the winning Swindon vol- to see the Volunteering Awards
It is run by trained volunteers who understand unteer and volunteer-involving become a regular feature on the
the many difficulties faced by carers. organisation in addition to the re- Swindon calendar as a way of rec-
Whether you want information, a chat or feel gional and national awards. All ognising and supporting volun-
the need to offload, drop-in. You can be sure of a Swindon nominees will be invited teering."
warm welcome, a friendly face and even a cup of tea to this year's award ceremony, the To nominate an individual or an
or coffee. "Oscars" of volunteering, to be organisation who, in your view, is
More volunteers are required to help run the drop-in, so if you are an held at the Swindon Marriott in making an outstanding contribu-
ex-carer or have an understanding of the needs of carers, have a few the Autumn. tion to society through volunteer-
hours to spare once a week or fortnight, call me on 531133. Whitbread operate the Marriott ing, telephone Jaclyn Oldman at
hotel franchise in the UK and this Swindon Volunteers on 538398 and
has lead to the Swindon Marriott's ask for a Whitbread Volunteer
involvement in creating a local Action Awards nomination form.
award. Area Sales Manager Helen The closing date for nominations
Hobden commented, "the Swin- is 21 September.
RaTynes & Co.
E ITo,/ Freshbrook Lunch Club will be restarting on Friday 4 September after
Lunch club opens doors to new members

its summer break and is opening its doors to new members.
The group is for anyone who hail (starting from around
Anglia House, 115/118 Commercial Road, Swindon finds it difficult to get around and 1030am), dish up and clear.
Tel: (01793) 522688 would enjoy the opportunity of a Whether you can give a couple
sociable lunch. It takes place from of hours on a regular basis or just
midday on Fridays at Freshbrook feel able to offer occasional holi-
sc'
Peter Winton • John Wilding
Helen Raynes Community Centre and is fully day or sickness cover, your help
wheelchair accessible. Transport would really be appreciated.
eq %t A Partnership Working for You OR can be provided for a small fee. To offer your services or find
0
ot'
Also at High Street, Wroughtori Volunteer help needed out more, telephone either Pam
The club is also looking for addi- Pixton on 465462 or Norman Wood
tional volunteers to help set up the on 537671.
Lunch clubs starved of volunteers
Over the summer, three clubs for older people in Swindon have
STIOPI closed through lack of volunteers.
Lunch clubs offer the opportunity to share a hot lunch and compan-
ionship. Often this is the only chance an older person may have to go
out and meet others.
LOOK and LISTEN before you commit yourself to any Could you spare some time to help keep a lunch club going? Perhaps
a group of friends could organise a rota so that this could be a fort-
major home improvement. New windows, doors and nightly commitment.
especially a new conservatory If you can help, please call Val Vaughan at Age Concern on 692166.
can transform your home....
but it's worth using this CHEcKrJsT Mission Romania lorry loading
simpte checklist:
- o CHOICEAre the
offering a good
range of desj help needed on 3 September
g
and various
locking
-..--t
.'.•.
-
. ngopf,05,
Swindon based charity Mission Romania is celebrating its most
LJREPuTATJoN/s,.taW successful year by sending out not one but two articulated lorries to
well
10Wfl
the Tirgu Mures area of Romania.
LOCALf/rfl7 well
with a reputation to
2'~ Protect?
Having collected a huge quan-
tity of food,clothing, medical sup-
0 QUALITY. Are t,5 eProolu
cls they plies and equipment, it all has to
Ini ,°pedb
ajor
be packed into the vehicles ready
:I manufurer
to roll on a 1,500 mile trip across
Europe.
\ Q
L in the carrying and loading so that
A 1 ?ANTEE: Is my in
Volunteers are needed to assist
those who will be making the trip
- will not be totally exhausted be-
/ Oip
fore they go.
$EERMIN WINDOWS pliso Two teams are needed and help
cladding & of any kind will be welcomed.
Telephone 824419 Call Julian Leggett at the West
gultefing
Swindon Centre on 872987, or Mission Romania volunteers,
A supplier and inslaller of
Windows, doors and oonseioatorins
822491 for more details. Julian Leggett and Eric Hayes