Derwen charity shop award

Estate Agents Win Again

Town and Country Estate Agents Oswestry have just won the British Property Award for Oswestry, for the third successive year. Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels. Town and Country Estate Agents Oswestry have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced shortly.

Derwen College charity shop, The Vintage Advantage, is celebrating winning a top national award at the Charity Retail Awards – the ‘Oscars’ of the charity shop world.

The Vintage Advantage charity shop, based at Derwen College’s main campus in Gobowen, won the Innovation Award at an awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Birmingham. The college charity shop team were honoured to be shortlisted alongside high-profile national charities such as Oxfam, Scope, British Heart Foundation, Shelter and Barnardos.

The Vintage Advantage charity shop is Derwen Charity’s first charity shop and is part of the College’s ‘Marketplace’ which also welcomes

Memory care with Active Cogs

Active Cogs holds cognitive stimulation sessions for anyone concerned about their memory. There is no requirement to have a diagnosis of anything as memory can be affected by all sorts of things such as stress, social isolation, health conditions, anxiety, depression and getting older.

Research has shown that keeping mentally and physically active is vital for brain health. Active Cogs provides memory stimulating activities in a relaxed, fun and caring environment.

visitors to a garden centre and gift shop, café, restaurant, and hotel. Students learn real work-skills in a safe and supported environment, learning skills that have enabled many to progress to paid work, further training or meaningful voluntary work. The charity shop was opened in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, with the main aim of providing work experience for retail students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Since then, the shop has gone from strength to strength, smashing sales targets, being part of the community and providing valuable work placements for students and clients (the College’s long-term residents who have SEND).

• Are you living with or caring for someone experiencing the above?

• Are you concerned about your memory, maybe this affects your confidence to socialise?

• Have you or someone you care for recently been diagnosed with dementia and in the very early stages?

This relaxed, supportive, friendly group may be for you providing; cognitive stimulation activities, opportunities for keeping active, activities to promote wellbeing, support and information.

Sessions cost £5 and include refreshments. They are held every

The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition. Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

Lettings Manager, Devon Gregory said, “It is a great honour to have won this prestigious award for the third year in a row. I do not do this job for the reward or recognition, but it is wonderful to know that the work I do makes a difference and has been recognised as the best within our community. I look forward to many more years in this industry and helping more people.” other Monday 1.30pm-3.30pm (dates on the website) at: Gatacre Pavilion, Gatacre Avenue, Oswestry, SY11 1DR

For further information visit www.connectforlife.co.uk, email connectforlife@hotmail.com or call 07582 207972.

Volunteer with your Friends at RJAH

The League of Friends, who manage the Voluntary Services at the Oswestry based hospital, is looking for people to join their volunteer family to support a wide variety of roles across the organisation.

With over 150 volunteers currently helping out, those who join will be working alongside a wonderful group of people who make a huge difference to patients, staff and relatives on a daily basis.

Heather Thomas-Bache, Head of Fundraising, Communications and Volunteers for the hospital Friends, said: “There is a broad array of roles available, from helping out in our retail outlets to providing support at fundraising events.

“Volunteers across the Trust are a major part of the fabric of RJAH and provide a vital service that is well appreciated by staff, patients and relatives alike.”

Beryl Angel has been a volunteer at RJAH for over 13 years and is currently working on the Helpdesk and the recently re-established Shop Trolley service. She said, “Volunteering with the Friends is a profoundly satisfying experience.”

Melvin Dulak joined the Friends volunteer family in 2021 and works in the Coffee Shop, on the Helpdesk and as a Ward Friend on the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries.

Melvin, who is a self-professed volunteering geek involved with multiple organisations, said, “Since volunteering with the Friends I have found it to be a fantastic organisation who support and look after you – it feels as though you’re part of an extended family, as we are all like-minded people doing our best to ensure that patients and visitors receive the very best experience when visiting the hospital, which can be daunting.”

To see a full list of available roles and to register your interest please visit: www.friendsrjah.org. uk/volunteer. Alternatively you can call 01691 404401 or email heather. thomas-bache@nhs.net