Page 37 - link magazine

Th e Link M ag azine • March 2004 29
What happened to all those new year's resolutions?
Alex Mullins, Information & Outreach Worker, with Swindon Volunteers says that Spring is a great time to get into volunteering
If you're one of those people who though there are groups that may ties; you could enable people with are lots of opportunities and the
made a resolution to get out and only need help on a one-off basis, disabilities to take part in sport; list of things that you could do to
help others in the New Year but or who are grateful for help once a you could use your IT skills, enter- help others is almost endless.
never quite got round to it - read fortnight or even once a month. ing data or helping others to use To find out more, get in touch
on. Some organisations need volun- computers; you could help pro- and we might be able to help you
There are loads and loads of teers Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, vide breakfast for homeless peo- change a life - yours and the peo-
volunteering opportunities in and but many others are looking for help ple; you could support victims of ple you help.
around Swindon. There are many in the evenings or at weekends. crime; you could support people Swindon Volunteers 420557;
organisations needing help to carry Some places are looking for support who are going to be witnesses at mail:[email protected]
out their work and they are regis- at the same time each week, others court; you could give advice to or drop in at 1 John Street (off Fleet
tered with 'Swindon Volunteers' - can be far more flexible. people about welfare benefits; you Street), Monday to Friday, Ham to
the local volunteer bureau, like a Most organisations offer full could help restore the local Wilts 3pm.
job centre but for volunteering. training for their volunteers. You Berks Canal; you could help at an
What might volunteering mean can learn new skills or share ones outdoor event at Lydiard Park. Help for people
for you? You need a time commit- you've already got. You get out As I started off by saying, there arriving home
ment of up to 3 hours a week and about and meet new people
and make new friends. While'giv- Janet Cass calls for help to
ing back' something to your com- Who's extra special? sustain a valuable service
Diabetics meet munity you gain a huge amount Thousands of people across Swin- The Red Cross Home From Hospi-
The Swindon Group Diabetes UK yourself. don contribute time, effort and tal Service is looking for more vol-
unteers to assist people who have
next meets on Tuesday 2 March So, why not spring into action commitment to voluntary work left hospital and need help to fa- y
where local pharmacist Chris and offer to help others? You could daily to make life easier for oth-
McKendrick will talk about how visit someone who is unwell or ers in the town. cilitate their independence.
to 'Avoid a medication mix-up'. elderly in their own home; you Only a few weeks ago the volun- Volunteers make a weekl visit
It takes place at Broad green Cen- could help a group of young peo- tary organisations they help were to help with shopping, collecting
tre at Salisbury Street, Swindon, ple with emotional or behavioural being threatened by financial cut- pensions and prescriptions, help
7.30pm. problems; you could learn to drive backs by councillors trying to keep with a meal, and sometimes just a
For details call group secretary a minibus and take groups of peo- council tax down. social visit to build up confidence.
Matthew Spencer on 851229. ple to day centres or leisure activi- But is there somebody to cel- We offer this service for between
ebrate? The Mayor of Swindon four to six weeks.
coun Derek Benfield is looking for If you have a couple of hours a
Memory is behind this year's Marie a person to receive his Swindon week to spare to help the Red Cross,
Curie Cancer Care's Daffodil Campaign 'Work for Charity' citizen's award. call me on 605155, 9am to 2pm,
Call Erz Turner on 463002 to put Monday to Friday, or leave a mes-
Marie Curie Cancer Care volunteer Tina Ryan took a background role your nomination forward. sage at other times.
at the launch of the charity's Spring fundraising campaign by hiding
inside a Daffy the Daffodil costume.

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Tina Ryan, hiding as Daffy, with volunteer Pat Suddaby, left,
and nurse Twiggy, right, and fundraiser Clair Cusack
Local fundraiser Sophie Kinsman said, "memory is the theme of this .
year's campaign and we can all help create precious moments to 4 '
remember for terminally ill people and their families by wearing a
daffodil and fundraising during the Marie Curie Cancer Care Daffodil
Campaign in March.
"Every donation received in return for a daffodil will help to pay for Make your dream a reality
more hours of nursing care from Marie Curie Nurses, whose invaluable
work enables cancer patients to spend their last days in the comfort and • Free 3D dimension drawing
familiar surroundings of their own homes." FENSA
Daffodils are available from thousands of local stores, schools and REGISTERED COMPANY • References available on request
Marie Curie shops nationwide. To help the campaign to its £2 million 10 YEAR
target, volunteers are needed for the street collection in Swindon town GUARANTEE Free survey and quotations
centre on Saturday 13 March and to set up sale's points at other
shopping centres and at work. Tel/Fax 01793 331551
To find out how you can help, call Sophie Kinsman and Clair Cusack
on 0117 924 7275 or mail: [email protected] Mobile 07775 621764 Mobile 07799 284998
www.mariecurie.org.uk/ daffodil — ,. I_J