Page 26 - link magazine

26
SwirdGr Wide
Financial adviser aims to give Old tea bags create jobs
£20,000 to local charities in South Africa
Fabcats is an unusual name for a firm of financial advisers and director,
Tea bags collected in Swindon in the last six months have created four
Paul Fell, be/ow, has an even more unusual business plan.
new jobs in a South African township.
He has made a corn- might sound impossi-
mitment to donate 25% ble. However, he ex- Since first appearing in Decem-
of his turnover to good plained that many fi- ber's Link. Bob and Lyn Newman
causes, with a particu- nancial advisers al- from Westlea have built a team of
lar emphasis on the lo- - ' ready share commis- collectors across Swindon who
cal community. Paul sion and fees with send them 1.000 empty. dry tea
has chosen Swindon other business for bags a month.
and District Samaritans passing clients to The bags are decorated by
and Threshold Housing them, such as with women connected with the Origi-
Link as the two chari- estate agents: this just nal T-Bag Designs in the township
ties he is going to sup- takes that principal of Imazamo Yethu near Cape Bob and Lynne with tea bag artwork
port over the next 12 and uses it to advan- Town. The artwork is used to make
months and hopes to present tage the local causes. cards, stationery. packaging. collects them at work and she
£10,000 to each by the end of the He is confident that people will wooden boxes, mats, coasters and sends me 600 every fortnight.
year. see the benefits of his scheme. candle holders. Oliver Tomkins and Peatmoor Pri-
Paul's also keen to encourage "Once people get over the initial Now that they have extra mate- mary Schools are doing their bit
participation in sport and physical scepticism, it becomes a bit of a rials to work with, the enterprise, and so are the residents of Elsie
activity and in January put £4,000 no-brainer. If you can get at least set up by Englishwoman Jill Heyes, Hazel Court in Freshbrook."
into Swindon School of Gymnas- the same quality of advice and has been able to offer work to three More collectors are needed. Bob
tics, with the help of Sportsmatch, service, knowing that 25 per cent more township women and an of- will advise the best way to empty
to fund pre-school movement of the value of the transaction is fice manager has joined the team. and dry tea bags. After that, it's just
classes, going to charity, what reason would Bob explained that the project a matter of enjoying a cuppa and
The former teacher and chair- you have for not using us?" now supports 90 people in this popping the dried bags in the post.
man of Grange Juniors PTA has Fabcats offer a full range of fi- desperately poor area as each Bob has a selection of craft items
been in the financial services in- nancial services for personal and worker's wages will feed several for sale and a DVD of the tea bag
dustry for nine years. He decided business matters including advice family members. operation to show at talks to com-
to include charitable donations in on mortgages, investments, life Bob has been delighted with the munity groups. schools and
his business plan as he believes it assurance, inheritance tax plan- support in Swindon. He so rted and churches.
is the most effective way for him to ning and will-writing. For help in sent off 1,300 bags in April, bring- Anyone interested in recycling
make a real difference to people any of these contact Paul on ing the total since December to tea bags or arranging a talk should
in the area. 821111 or mail: paulfell@fabcats- over 9,000. contact Bob Newman on 872389
Paul acknowledged that the idea ifa.co.uk Bob said, "one lady in Stratton or mail: [email protected]

Keeping kids smiling in Ukraine
Swindon's links with the Cherkassy region of Ukraine were strength-
LL.d ened when dentists and doctors visited the town in May.

Loft Conversion Specialists
1-.

Brendon Sa//. second left. andf7ichardSwift. right, with from left, Dr/van
Acenti Designs Ltd specialises in converting all types of loft into quality living space. Kovo/enko, Nadia Nestrugina, paediatrician, Va/ery Kornavenko, tho-
Whether you need more space or wish to expand your house rather than moving, loft racic surgeon. Katerina Kornavenko. deputy head of the Cherkassy
conversions are a cost effective way of increasing your living space without losing children s dental c/inic. Andriy Ko vo%nko. dentist
valuable garden area. We convert all types of lofts including modern 'W' truss lofts.
The trip was arranged by Swin- his colleagues were deeply grate-
We are a professional engineering company. who make extensive use of computer don charity Smile Menders which ful to the people of Swindon. "With
aided design (CAD), to optimise the space and the head height within a loft and to is run by Brendon and Natasha your help we have been able to
accurately design stairs to fit into the complex geometry of a loft causing a minimum Ball of the Freshbrook Dental Prac- take dentistry to children, the eld-
disruption to existing living space. tice and Richard and Linda Swift to erly and disabled people in distant
sustain the contact with the areas who cannot afford treatment.
If you need more living space for a bedroom,
Cherkassy region of Ukraine first People have tears in their eyes to
o ffice, playroom or a place to relax,
established over five years ago. know somebody cares for them."
converted lofts make very attractive ^ .
r
light extra rooms. Smile Menders have donated a Apart from the mobile units
former school dental caravan and Brendon and Richard have made
Designed correctly loft conversions are an n 1 I
tow vehicle and last year delivered visits to Cherkassy to deliver Jen-
environmentally friendly, cost effective way
a former Wiltshire Health Authority tal supplies and provide up to date
of increasing living space.
mobile dental clinic. Dr Ivan training.BrendonsaidSmileMend-
is
Freephone 0800 9178695 Kovolenko, head of dental serv- ers in future will concentrate on
ices in Cherkassy, speaking training and promoting good oral
www.acenti.co.uk
through a translator said he and health care.