Page 14 - link magazine

Another Link on the scene as West Swindon
SITES FOR A
LOCAL Skate park
CONSULTATION
NOW OPEN
Three locations have been selected by West Swindon
Councillors as possible sites for a neighbourhood
skate park.
This was based on access routes, land availability and
distance from housing.
The local site options are:
• Rivermead Drive (near the Spectrum building)
• Saltway Fields, Middleleaze
• Shaw Ridge (behind Shaw Leisure Park)
Please let us know which site in your opinion would be
the best one for local skateboarders and scooter users in
West Swindon by using one of the following:
• Filling in a paper survey available from
West Swindon Library at the Link Centre
• Requesting a survey to be posted to you by
calling 01793 466223 or email:
[email protected] slight speech impediment, a poor grip
• Completing the online survey at:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCV6BXR
To find out more, please come to the
public drop-in session at the library on
Saturday 30th November, 11am to 2pm
The consultation ends on Sunday 15th December
and the outcome will be reported at the West Swindon
Forum in the library on
Monday 13th January 2014
starting at 7pm
14 swindonlink.com • December 2013
1-18 December 13.indd 14
primary schools convert to academy status
Millbrook, Peatmoor, Shaw Ridge and Westlea primary schools came
together on 1 November as academies under the Link Collaborative Trust,
working together for the benefit of all their pupils.
Commenting on what the ar- together but the trust adds another
rangement means for children in layer of rigour to what we can achieve.
“For Shaw Ridge we are looking
West Swindon, and to her school in
particular, Shaw Ridge headteacher forward to the support and challenge
Sally Cowell said: “This is a fantastic that working with our partner schools
opportunity to work together with will bring, and that will help us in our
like-minded schools to improve the journey from good to outstanding.”
learning outcomes of all our pupils. At secondary level Nova Hreod
Academy status puts schools in the College is earmarked to become an
driving seat to improve what we can academy within the national United
for all our stakeholders. Learning framework, while Isambard
“It’s a really exciting time. The Community School has 1 January
four schools have always worked well 2014 pencilled in for their conversion.
Where’s the best place for a skate park?
The long running discussion about where a £60,000 skate and scooter
facility could be located in West Swindon is again out for public consul-
tation, this time giving everybody living in the area a chance to say where
it should go.
Although discussed and agreed at The latter is the originally consid-
the West Swindon Forum in 2012, ered site, although the skate park-
residents are asked to choose one of would be positioned further away
the three sites identified as suitable from housing at Spencer Close on
- on top of Shaw Ridge, close to the the other side of Tewkesbury Way.
main footpath from West Swindon See the advert on the left for
Centre to Shaw, at Rivermead, near pictures of the sites and how to state
the Spectrum/Renualt building, and your preference where the skate park
Salt Way Fields, Middleleaze. should be built.
Disabled clients wanted to work
with fitness mentor
Sam James, below, who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, is looking for
people with disabilities who want to try a gym but don’t feel confident
that able bodied instructors will understand their particular requirements.
Sam has just started a 12 week
placement at Link Centre as part of
her Instructability course, a London
Paralympic initiative set up to train
people with disabilities to train others.
Now aged 33, Sam stopped breath-
ing at 9 weeks which starved her brain
of oxygen. She now suffers from a
in her left hand and tight leg muscles.
She said: “I used to swim a lot when
younger but gave up on fitness when
I went to uni. After I broke a foot a
few years ago I decided I wanted to
be stronger and started doing body Instructability has opened Sam’s
balance, then Zumba, adapting moves eyes to future possibilities. In De-
for my capabilities. cember she’s going to take a Zumba
“I’ve always been taught to try instructor course, followed by kids
everything but found I was the only Zumba. Next year she wants to be-
disabled person in the classes. I then come a personal trainer so that she can
discovered Instructability which work with both disabled adults and
gives disabled people the skills to children, as well as the able bodied.
understand the needs of others with Sign up to train with Sam via the
disabilities, so that they work together Link Centre Gym on 01793 445566
to feel good about going to a gym.” or mail: [email protected]
14/11/2013 16:36