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The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com 11

Cafe closes for lack of cooks
If you can stand the heat, come into the kitchen to restart the cafe
The Wednesday morning community cafe in Freshbrook Community
Centre, set up with great fanfare two years ago, has shut because there
are too few people willing to help in the kitchens.
Organiser Tracy Clifford said the proved to be a good way to gain
aim of the cafe is to bring different work experience or rebuild confi-
groups in the community together. dence after a career break. One of
“There are separate toddler groups the volunteers has gone on to find
and a lunch club for older resi- a full time job in catering and an-
dents, but we wanted a place where other has begun work in a school.
people can mix. The cafe is a popu- But as volunteers leave, new
lar meeting place for a wide range ones are needed to help each
of people from young families and Wednesday between 11am and
older folk, with police officers and 2pm. They will be working in the
community wardens dropping by. kitchen, taking orders and clear-
“We also wanted to show peo- ing tables, but no catering experi-
ple you can cook good home-made ence is necessary. An interest in www.cannonmortgages.co.uk
fresh food and it’s not that diffi- people and the ability to mix are
cult.” more important than qualifica-
The whole operation is run by tions. If you can help call Tracy on
volunteers and for some has 872919.
Cafe success in Toothill

www.debt-assist.com
On 18 December the Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon Mike and Joyce Bawden
enjoyed Christmas lunch with members of the Toothill Community Centre cafe
which meets on Monday morning 9.30am to 1.30pm. They are pictured with Katie
Simpson of Zurich Local, Rev Steven Skinner, resident Pauline Atley. Standing,
Toothill councillor Steve Wakefield, cafe cook Carol Gibbons, volunteer helpers
from the Church of Latter Day Saints Elders Packer and Shumway

Costa del River Ray on the way
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has received planning permission for the
next phase of the River Ray Restoration Project between Westlea and
Barnfield, which will include a paddling beach.
Jo Sayers, Swindon Wa-
ter for Wildlife Officer,
who oversees the project,
said, “Phase 3 is all about
the area’s links with West
Swindon. We want peo-
ple to connect with the
river and improvements
will include adding more
meanders to the channel
and introducing pools, rif-
fles and backwaters. We
will also be adding a river Jo Sayer, soon to oversee more
beach so that people can restoration work on the River Ray
access and enjoy the river.”
On the banks of the river the opened up by removing trees and
natural floodplain is being restored more trees will be planted on the
to provide home for more wildlife, edges to screen the adjacent
particularly birds like the Reed Westmead industrial estate.
Bunting, which enjoys feeding The project receives funding
from the pools and scrapes created from the Environment Agency,
on the floodplain. Biffaward, Swindon Council,
New footpaths will be created to npower and Thames Water.
make it easier for wheelchair users To find out more about the
and less mobile people to visit the project, contact Jo Sayers on 526229
site. The middle of the area will be or mail [email protected]
www.walfins.co.uk

1 February 07 11 19/1/07, 9:37 am