Page 46 - link magazine

46 swindonlink.com • August 2010

Swindon MPs launch town centre offi ce Emotional reunion in Belarus
Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson have opened a joint offi ce at for charity volunteer
One Milton Road, Swindon SN1 5JE (opposite the Health Hydro).
Richard Goddard, a chartered architect from Old Town, recently re-
To contact their staff call 533393 or mail: justin.tomlinson.mp@parliament.
uk or [email protected] turned from Belarus, where he visited children and families affected
by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster of 24 years ago.
The offi ce is open to visitors between 10am and 3pm.
“My wife Sally and family with an income
I have been involved through dairy pro-
Help and advice for the over-55s with the Chernobyl duce and potentially
veal.”
Children in Need char-
Advice workers are calling on more mature residents in West Swindon ity for a few years now, The Goddards will
to use their valuable service if they encounter any consumer problem. and have hosted eight be hosting a Belarus
The CAB Over 55s Advice Project tact us because they might have a different children in interpreter this sum-
Team want people to be aware that problem or a question and aren’t Swindon,” said Rich- mer as part of the
they can help with issues ranging sure where they can get further ard. “Many people have annual visit from the
from benefi ts to debt, housing to help. There are lots of sources of forgotten about nuclear Chernobyl children.
nuisance neighbours. The scheme information out there, and we can radiation from Chernobyl but sadly Eight children aged from 8 to 16
was set up last year following the usually help to point people in the it’s an on-going problem.” years arrived in mid-July. They will
closure of Age Concern in recogni- right direction.’ During his stay Richard visited receive free eye and dental checks,
tion of the need for an advice service While the existing CAB services the Ozarichi school where he was and will enjoy parties and outings
for older people. are open to all, the over-55s team reunited with eight-year-old Vika, to venues such as the Cotswold
Project coordinator Caroline offer extra ways to get in touch, above, a young girl who came to his Wildlife Park funded by Thames-
Davies Khan said that in less than a including a dedicated phone advice home last year. “When she saw me down Rotary Club.
year, the team has helped Swindon line, appointments at the CAB of- she ran at top speed, jumped into “The trip certainly changed my
people increase their income by fi ce in Faringdon Road and home my arms and gave me an enormous perception of how we live,” said
over £350,000, often through ben- visits. The team can be contacted on hug. It was an emotional moment Richard. “All the things we take for
efi ts like pension credit and council 491889 Monday to Friday between and confi rmed to me that Chernobyl granted are luxury items over there.
tax relief. ”Sometimes people con- 10am and 1pm. Children in Need are doing a job It made me realise how lucky we
that is very much appreciated by are. While embracing the problems
the people of Belarus.” of another culture is not easy, all we
Cafes closed for holiday Richard and his co-volunteers can do is try to explain, and hope
also presented an Ozarichi family that the generosity of people will
West Swindon Community Cafes will be closed during August and will with a cow purchased by Swindon win through.”
reopen on Monday 6 September at Toothill Church and Wednesday 8 employees of Cable & Wireless For details of Chernobyl Children
September at Freshbrook Church. Worldwide who had run the Read- in Need call Gin McGiffi n on 07753
Organisers hope to open a second day in Freshbrook but need more ing marathon to raise money. He 662891.
volunteers to join them. Call Tina Mackie on 07944 134915 if you can help.
said, “the animal will provide the www.ccin.co.uk
A route out of poverty for this Belarus family, thanks to Chernobyl Children in Need

Sunday Worship 10.30am
Sunday School and Creche
Meeting at Abbey Meads
Community School

On Thames Avenue
next door to
Morrisons Join us in worship on Sunday mornings
Contact: Westlea Church, Westlea School: 10am
Revd Raymond Adams
Tel: 634258 St Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze - the church in the park: 10am
All Saints’, Lydiard Millicent - the church in the village: 10.30am
St. John’s Haydon Wick Holy Trinity, Shaw: 10.30am
Toothill Church: 10.30am
Sunday Services For details of these and our other services
9am Traditional communion service call the Partnership Offi ce on 874221
11am Eventful, contemporary worship Email: partnershipoffi [email protected]
with children’s groups meeting www.wswinlyd.org.uk
www.stjohnshaydonwick.org.uk Anglican • Baptist • Methodist • United Reformed Church

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