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Youth Service has big ideas Life experience is all you need
for the summer to become a mentor
The BIG Event Go native After an 11th hour reprieve, SMASH, a charity providing support for
Swindon Council’s Youth Service Two residential events in Wrough- young people is again looking for volunteer mentors.
will be showing off what its got at ton take place during the holidays:
The Big Event on Saturday 7 July, • Musarama, a combination of
1pm to 5pm, at Link Centre. music, dance and drama will run
Aimed at 13 to 19 year olds, a from 19 to 24 August;
whole range of activities inside and • Tup Puskin Nook, a native
outside the building will show- American week, takes place from
case what there is for young peo- 26 August to 1 September.
ple in the town. The cost is £70 for each week, or
In the main hall there will be £130 for two.
sports activities on a ‘sexual health For details on the Big Event and
Olympics’ theme, whilst outside the residential weeks, contact Huw
the Boombox mobile disco and Solly on 07766 368398 or mail:
mixing rig and the Flux bus mobile [email protected]
media studio will show off digital West Swindon Girls Group
media opportunities. Youth worker Clare Winslow has Smashing future. The Mayor and Mayoress Michael and Sue Barnes help Josh
There will be live bands, Indian started a group for girls aged 13 to Chesterman, SMASH youth committee member, staff and volunteers launch the
drummers and dancers and a Big 19 years at Toothill Farm. new base at Link Centre in late May
Brother style diary chair to feed- She said it’s a chance for girls to
back what you think of the youth talk in an safe space about issues A Big Lottery grant of £494,000 history of school exclusions, health
service. like relationships and sexual saved the charity from closure in difficulties, low self-esteem, anti-
“It’s a chance for everyone to health, get information and advice May and will cover core costs for social behaviour or special needs
come down and get involved,” said about services for young women the next three years. or may be missing out on adult
youth worker Huw Solly. and organise their own fun events. Project manager, Richard support for a variety of reasons.
He added that the event offers “Come along with your ideas Roberts, said it was a tremendous Assigning adult mentors has
the opportunity for adults inter- and develop the group along the vote of confidence in the project proved effective at improving
ested in training to become volun- lines you want,” said Clare. and its work, as 80 per cent of school attendance and qualifica-
teer or part-time youth workers For details mail her at: lottery grant applications are tions and raising self-esteem and
and to meet Youth Service staff. [email protected] turned down initially. confidence. The mentors come
Having secured funding, the from a wide range of backgrounds
project was forced to find a new but all want to give something back
Summer fun down on the farm base when Swindon Council asked to the local community. After an
them to leave their previous initial training course there is con-
Roves Farm, near Sevenhampton, has a full programme of activities premises at The Limes in Upper tinued support from project staff.
planned for the summer holidays again this year with lots to keep Stratton. Fortunately, they found There is a waiting list of vulner-
children occupied and happy.
a new home in the former youth able young people needing sup-
Animal feeding, ferent bug habitats suite at Link Centre. port and encouragement to reach
tractor and trailer then make some of the SMASH pairs vulnerable young their full potential.
rides and craft ses- more recognisable people aged 13 to 18 with a mentor For details of training to become
sions will be repeated mini-beasts during a who meets them once a week. a mentor call 879297.
daily. Animal racing crafts session. The young people may have a www.mysmash.org
takes place in mid- af- Wind in the Wil-
ternoon, subject to lows is the theme for
weather conditions Roves Farm welcome from Saturday 4 to Friday Reading will result in more trees
and unforeseen cir- 17 August. Follow the
Joanne & Rupert Burr Leafing through a book will be rewarded with tree tokens during this
cumstances. story of Toad and his year’s Swindon Libraries Summer Reading Challenge.
Already this year the animal friends on tractor rides along the
races have raised over £1,000 from banks of the River Cole and into The Big Wild Read from 19 July to Neil Griffiths will present the
generous donations for the Pros- the depths of the willow wood- 8 September is a free activity for prizes at a special event in Septem-
pect Hospice. lands. children of all ages that runs in ber.

Themed holiday activities start Saturday 18 August is Robin libraries throughout the holidays. “We hope as many children as

on Saturday 28July with Bug Week. Hood day. Hunt for the stolen gold This year, in a partnership with possible will join in the Big Wild
Take a tractor ride to hunt for dif- around the farm on the rides and the Woodland Trust’s Trees For Read and enjoy a summer of read-
collect items to make a Sherwood All campaign, every book a child ing,” said librarian Rachel
Forest hat. reads will earn tree tokens which Kowalski. “The library will help
Flowers for The end of the holidays from 25 will be translated into up to 20,000 children explore the imaginative
all occasions August is marked by Sunflower new trees for UK woods. world of books, and find out how
delivered locally Week. The tractor will pull the Children will be encouraged to to make a difference to the envi-
Also wedding stationery made to order. trailer to the beautiful swaying get their noses into a good book ronment.”
Read writer’s blogs about their
with special scratch and sniff stick-
Malvern show medallist fields of sunflowers and there will ers to collect in a Big Wild Reading books, record your thoughts about
Tel: 07971 915249 be competitions to make the best
e-mail: [email protected] For details call 763939. Folder. If they read six books and the books you’ve read, take part in
www.scenteddesigns.com www.rovesfarm.co.uk complete 6 activity sheets, they will games, activities and find out how
receive a certificate, a medal and to make a positive difference to the
entry into a prize draw. environment at:
Children’s author and storyteller www.bigwildread.org.uk
The most cost effective way New film releases for July
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21 July 07 copy 50 15/6/07, 11:28 am