More help is at hand (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

More help is at hand

Ref. 27350-09The Gannett Foundation has thrown scores of Swindon charities lifelines and it wants to help more worthy causes.

Last year the foundation, the charitable arm of The Evening Advertiser's parent company, donated more than £10,000 to local charities.

The organisation is now appealing for charities to apply for funding this year.

Priority will be given to youth projects and groups which help people who are disabled or disadvantaged.

Last year homeless people, bereaved children and youngsters with special needs were supported by The Gannett Foundation.

The Salvation Army's Davis House, in Turl Street, which has 120 residents, received £3,350.

All residents have access to a basic skills centre, which helps them learn English, maths, art and computing. The money was used to expand the basic skills room and link all the computers so residents can now work together.

Senior project worker Alan Baldwin said: "The money helped us tremendously and enabled us to improve our learning facilities.

"We are so grateful for the support."

The Study Centre, based at Swindon Town Football Club's County Ground, received £1,800.

The centre encourages children from the age eight to 14 to enjoy learning via the power of football after the school day.

Thanks to the donation, children are benefiting from a scheme called Playing For Success, which helps youngsters exercise their literacy, numeracy and computer skills through the medium of football.

Manager Martin Turnbull said: "We have been running for five years and the scheme is proving a great success. Boys and girls are so enthusiastic when they visit the centre." The Rainbow Club, which supports five to 16-year-olds who have lost or have a parent or sibling who is ill, was thrilled to receive £2,500.

The money has ensured the group's survival for the next three years and means it can continue meeting in The Riverside Centre, Queens Drive, during school holidays. Chairwoman Megan Brown said: "Since the club began two years ago we now have more than 20 members. It's like an extended family."

Children with special needs have been going to The Koalas Opportu-nity Group, based in the Victoria Hospital, Okus Road, for the past 16 years.

It costs £46,500 a year to run the service, which stimulates youngsters with stories, artwork and games.

So £3,000 from the Gannett Foundation Fund came in handy. It is being used to assist users of the service who have transport difficulties.

Stephanie Hathaway, co-ordinator at Koalas, wants to say a big thank you.

She said: "This funding is so precious to us. Without it some families would find it difficult, if not impossible, to use the service.

"So we would like to say a huge thank you."

Victoria Tagg