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Community News

Big Lottery grant helps MS therapy centre to ‘move on up’

Swindon Therapy Centre for
Multiple Sclerosis has been awarded
a Big Lottery grant of £404,463
for a major expansion project at
Bradbury House, its West Swindon
base on Westmead Drive.
Its ‘Moving on up’ project to
refurbish the upper floor for a
substantial extension of services
is supported by a 5 year grant
from the Big Lottery’s Reaching
Communities programme, which
aims to help those most in need and Members, trustees and funders celebrating the lottery grant at Swindon MS Therapy Centre
build stronger communities.
The MS Therapy Centre, which chi and Nordic walking. There will also be rooms available palsy.
was established in 1983, has There will be new treatment rooms for regular Carers Cafes and Rose Hall, a member of the
grown dramatically since the move for use by health professionals, sessions run by Citizens Advice fundraising committee and a user
to Westlea in January 2010. The including the MS specialist nurse Swindon, to better support carers since 2008 said: “The charity has
grant will be used to equip a new and consultants from Great Western and family members in their rights gone through so much change since
physiotherapy gym, and provide Hospital, as well as a larger social and entitlements. we were in tiny premises in Cheney
studio space for essential physical area for members and carers to Centre manager Louise Walker Manor. As my husband is at work
activity including yoga, Pilates, tai- support each other. said: “We’re thrilled to be able to during the day, the centre is my
develop more services and support. lifeline as I’m able to get out for
Twin town recipes now available It will enable our members to therapy and meet others.
remain mobile and receive the best “This lottery grant takes a lot
care and support.” of pressure off us to fundraise all
As well as offering people with the time because we don’t receive
MS different therapies, including any NHS funding. We would all
use of a purpose built hyperbaric like to thank the Lottery and our
oxygen therapy tank, the charity supporters in the community.”
assists people with a range of other For more information, contact
conditions including Parkinsons, 01793 481700 or stcswindon@
ME, stroke and brain injuries, and btconnect.com
children with autism and cerebral www.msswindon.org.uk

Twin town approval for Nicaraguan recipes from Ocotal visitors Maria Jose
Gurrero Figuerro and Jorge Calderon with Gillian and Helen Wallis
A cook book linking Swindon with ingredients not available in Europe.
Ocotal, its twin in Nicaragua, was “It was definitely a learning curve,
launched in early May to celebrate but the recipes have been tested
25 years of fraternal support. by lots of people involved with
It’s the culmination of a lot of Swindon Ocotal Link,” said head
voluntary work after a visit to cook Gillian Wallis.
Ocotal in October 2003 by Gillian The book costs £5 and proceeds go
and her daughter Helen to collect towards helping groups in Ocotal.
recipes, followed by several years To purchase a copy contact Gillian:
of translation and substitution of [email protected]
Final total for Downs Group

Two years of fundraising at Group chair Kim West said:
Sainsbury’s Bridgemead came to “We would like to thank all the
an end in May when a cheque Sainsbury’s Bridgmead staff for
for £7,000 was handed over to being amazing and store customers
members of Swindon Down’s for supporting us. Without you
Syndrome Group, making the final we would not have been able to
total £20,000. achieve this unbelievable amount.”
swindonlink.com n July 2016 5

July 2016 Master Pages.indd 5 17/06/2016 14:49