Page 26 - link magazine

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5wuiIcr Wide
Samaritans offer support Join The Link and the Bombay Lounge
through dark days at a charity curry night celebration on
The end of January has been designated the gloomiest time of year: add
to that the deepening financial and economic crises and Samaritans fear Monday 9 February and
an increase in suicide rates. Tuesday 17 February
As people face unemployment, ten is about financial issues."Finan-
mounting debt and housing inse- cial difficulty can contribute to the To mark 30 years in print Swindon Link is getting together
curity, the charity is encouraging breakdown of even the strongest with the Bombay Lounge at Peatmoor Village Centre to hold
everyone to look out for family, relationships with friends and family," two big charity nights in February.
friends and colleagues. said Joe Ferns of Samaritans. "We
Being out of work can lead to urge anyone feeling distressed to Since January1979, The Link has been an increasingly important media
anxiety and depression and fears share their problems rather than for news, views and information in West and North Swindon, and other
of further cutbacks will affect those letting them get out of control.Talkto parts of the town as well - a positive newsforce that people have come
who are still employed says Stephen your family, friends and colleagues to rely on to communicate how they're involved in the community, and
Platt, Professor of Health Policy or, if you feel you can't do this, a channel to promote opportunities to participate and engage together
Research at Edinburgh University contact us." in good things in their neighbourhoods.
and Samaritans' trustee. "At this Family and friends can watch The evenings will also mark the first anniversary of the Bombay Lounge
time, Samaritans'services are more out for warning signs of depres- curry cashback charity nights launched in association with Swindon
crucial than ever." sion including being withdrawn or Link to give charities and community organisations the chance to raise
"A recent survey of people who unsociable, excessive drinking or money whilst enjoying a good meal.
have contacted the Samaritans becoming dependent on drugs, Since February last year, Hanif Robbani, the owner of the Bombay
showed that 74 per cent of suicidal acting out of character, being exces- Lounge, has donated £15,000 from his profits made on Monday and
people felt getting in touch helped sively irritable, lacking energy and Tuesday evening charity curry nights.
them take a decision not to end finding it hard to concentrate. Groups as wide ranging as Koalas special opportunities playgroup, the
their own lives." To speak to someone call Samari- Swindon & Wiltshire branch of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and local
The charity receives 2.8million tans on 08457 90 90 90.
contacts each year; about one in www.samaritans.org football teams, to Epilepsy Action have been helped. See the complete
list at www.swindonlink.com
Bang away the blues We've nominated four organisations to benefit from the curry nights
on 9 and 17 February:
The weather has been chilly, it's still a few weeks before Spring kicks in,
and the economy is in a trough, but Graeme Goodwin from Freshbook has Age Concern Swindon
the perfect answer to burn away frustrations and rebuild inner rhythms. AGE Despite news that the charity is to close on 1 April,
He teaches the ancient art of djembe drumming, on drums he has after 57 years, money is still needed to ensure its
made or imported from West Africa, at Commonweal School in Old Town Co services to Swindon's older people continue right
every Wednesday, 7pm to 9pm. The first lesson is free. SWINDON to the end of the financial year.
For details call Graeme on 07828 788552.
Chernobyl Children's Lifeline
Swindon families have hosted over 100 children
Ill
from Belarus since the local branch was started in
2005, the majority of whom have read about the
work of CCLL in The Link. (In fact the thread of The
Link's CCLL coverage runs back almost 15 years
when we started to write about the work of Dentaid
in the Ukraine and the involvement in the country
of Freshbrook dentist Brendon Ball, who later set
kw up a charity Smile Menders).
IV Vl N 10 Swindon Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis
II- RA l't' Moving Soon Appeal
The organisation hopes to move out of their
cramped premises to a much larger refurbished
for Multipie Sine, OSIS building in West Swindon in September. It receives
rff!25V b no funding from the NHS and relies entirely on
fundraising and donations. In the new centre they
will be able to provide support and practical
assistance to many more MS sufferers.
Eat El drink The Rainbow Club
This Swindon group for bereaved children runs on
as much as you like* a shoe string and relies on charitable donations to
keep going. The children meet with professionals
about six times a year during the school holidays
£ 1 .10 to talk about their experiences and share the com-
per person mon knowledge that most others don't have.
'Does not include King Prawn dishes.
Any food at least not half consumed must be paid for. Drinks Make your bookings now
can only be ordered one at a time. Any drink atleast not half
consumed must be paid for! It's quite simple, there are no tickets. Just ring the
Additional conditions apply ask at the restaurant for details
Bombay Lounge on 877799 or 882233 and book a table
for yourself, friends, family or members of your
01793 887799/882233 business, school or community group
Tell them if you want the £12.50 all you can eat option
2 Roughmoor Village Centre
Peatmoor, West Swindon If you are unable to come out for the evening, order a takeway
because those profits will also go towards the causes.