Page 10 - link magazine

Freshbrook freshen up
Sixteen children from Millbrook Primary
School and 12 from Lydiard Park Academy
took part in a mass clean up of Freshbrook
Village Centre at the end of May.
The were assisted by dentist Brendon Ball,
local PCSOs, Swindon Council Neighbour-
hood Wardens, the manager of Tesco Nathan
Neate, church youth worker Dave Davidson,
community facilitator Gail Light and Hair-
works glam gardeners: Laura Fertnig and
Tracy Knight.
Millbrook Year 6 pupil Daniel Young said:
“It’s great to make such a difference to our
area; I hope people will have noticed what
we’ve done.”
Tesco manager Nathan Neate said he had
only arrived in early May. “I’ve been with the
company 26 years and I’ve never seen a com-
munity mobilised like this. It shows people
are proud of their area.”
Brendon Ball, who does a litter sweep every Age UK offers phone friendship service to older folk
morning outside his surgery said: “It was a Older people in Swindon wanting a friendly chat are being urged to get in contact with Age UK as
fantastic effort; I hope others will realise the the charity has set up a new Call in Time service in the area offering a weekly phone call from friendly
difference and make an effort not to drop litter local volunteers.
around the village centre. Age UK’s free Call in Time service offers phone calls from trained volunteers lasting around half an hour
In 2012 Swindon Council allocated to provide a reliable friendly voice and a safe and comfortable environment for older people to chat about
£120,000 to refurbish a number of local cen- anything from grandchildren and hobbies to day-to-day life.
tres. This has now been cut to £100,000. Plans The Call in Time service in Swindon is run in partnership with Age UK Wiltshire, Swindon Council
for Freshbrook include removing planters to and Zurich Community Trust and aims to reduce loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the
create more parking spaces and to designate community.
spaces for people with disabilities. Age UK has volunteers ready and waiting to take calls. To find out more, or if someone you know could
A new entrance sign is also being considered. benefit, contact Call in Time on: 0844 225 0320 or mail: [email protected]

10 swindonlink.com • July 2013

1-18 July 13.indd 10 20/06/2013 15:34