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26 minute read
ARTIST TEACHES WATERCOLOURS WITH VILLAGES
How Twyford and Hurst are helping people learn how to paint with watercolours
EXCLUSIVE
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By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today
AN artist whose earlier books topped best seller lists, has produced a brand new one on how to do ink and watercolour pictures.
Liz Chaderton’s new book, Line and Wash Painting, is full of her trademark and clear guidance.
“Using ink and watercolours is wonderful because it’s perfect for anything from the simplest doodle to a fully finished piece of art,” said Liz, of Hurst.
“The ink is like scaffolding on which you hang the beautiful and transparent watercolour. It’s almost like draping silk. The technique is both hard and soft, that’s why I like it.”
Combining ink and colour goes back hundreds of years. The Lindisfarne Gospels, fabulously written and illustrated by monks in around 700 AD, is ((correct)) an outstanding example.
Line and Wash’s 170 illustrations is pictures of local places like Twyford Post Office, Reading Abbey ruins with clever use of the town’s map within the walls, The Castle Inn and St Nicholas Church at Hurst and also Mapledurham watermill.
She’s just sold the original of her picture of Reading Town Hall and its clock tower transformed to have the feel of a fairy tale castle.
“The lady who bought it has just moved from Reading and was very fond of the town. The town hall is a fantastic building and I love the museum there,” added Liz.
The new book describes a wide variety of styles and other subjects including insects, people, animals, a statuesque cedar tree and a small blue sports car with smoke pouring from its bonnet – seemingly on a trip to France, indicated by background maps.
The book advises on materials to use, exercises to hone drawing and painting skills and use of mixed media. There are ways to take line and wash to another level and step by step demonstrations of ideas TIPS AND TRICKS: Liz Chaderton with her new book Picture: Sue Corcoran
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IN COLOUR: The Old Post Office building on Twyford High Street and The Castle Inn, in Hurst Pictures: Liz Chaderton
and projects. The publishers, The Crowood Press, say it is “a visual treat and an essential guide.”
They printed Liz’s earlier books: Painting Watercolours on Canvas and Painting Animals in Watercolour. The second reprint of the latter was caught in last March’s Suez Canal container ship traffic jam, but did make it to the UK.
Both books have been top of Amazon’s best seller lists for their category.
The new book, costing £12.99, is due out on Monday, January 24. n For more information, visit: www. crowood.com/products/line-andwash-painting-by-liz-chaderton
Police warn residents over gift card email scam
POLICE are warning people to be on their guard against a new gift voucher fraud.
Emails have been sent out by scammers appearing to be from a friend or colleague.
In it, they ask the recipient to buy a gift card, saying they can’t do it themselves as they are in a meeting or can’t get to a shop, but will reimburse as soon as possible.
Thames Valley Police said that the email will also likely ask the victim to photograph the cards and send the unique codes printed on them. This allows the scammer to use the gift cards to make online purchases.
The force advises that recipients do not buy any gift cards.
If in doubt, contact the friend or colleague via another method such as calling them, to see if they really did make the request.
Anyone working in retail is asked to be on guard for this scam, and phishing emails can be reported by forwarding the email to: report@phishing. gov.uk COLD: OFTEC is warning that people who live in fuel poverty often have poorly insulated homes Government urged to tackle Berkshire’s cold home crisis
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NEW research shows that more than 350 Berkshire people died from excess winter deaths between 2019 and 2020 – and with more than 25,000 homes in fuel poverty, there are fears that this winter’s total could be higher.
Now, a trade association for off-gas grid heating, is calling for action, warning that many of the deaths were preventable, as they were caused by people living in cold homes, particularly in rural areas where properties are typically older, less energy-efficient and harder to keep warm.
The Excess Winter Mortality report, from the Office for National Statistics, shows that, in England and Wales, there were 29,290 excess deaths between December 2019 and March 2020, excluding Covid-19.
OFTEC says that in rural areas, a disproportionate number of households live in fuel poverty, many of whom are classed as vulnerable, adding further complexity to the problem.
In Berkshire, around 25,700 households are classed as fuel poor, which means their disposable income after energy costs puts them below the poverty line and their home has an energy efficiency (EPC) rating of band D or below.
Official figures for last winter (2020/21) have yet to be released.
OFTEC’s Malcolm Farrow said: “Experts believe that people who are older, live with long-term health conditions or have lower average income are most at risk of winter illness or mortality. We have serious concerns that another cold winter, coupled with rising living costs and the ongoing risk posed by coronavirus, could make this situation much worse, as more households face a stark choice between heating and eating.”
He added: “We know that many of those in Berkshire who are least able to afford their heating costs live in some of the most poorly insulated properties, making them much harder to heat and keep warm.
“The government needs to take action and provide more support for fuel poor households to help tackle the excess winter death crisis.”
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| NEWS Will Rapunzel escape her Twyford tower?
A BOROUGH theatre group will be taking to the stage for its annual pantomime next week.
Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Group will present Rapunzel, the tale of a girl held as a prisoner in a tall tower by a wicked witch.
The group guarantee all the usual panto characters to add to the fun, including a dame, a handsome prince, a fairy and some bumbling sidekicks.
For covid safety, the group will reduce maximum audience numbers to increase spacing. There will be two matinées and two evening sessions.
All performances are at Loddon Hall, Twyford. Opening night is at 7.45pm on Friday, January 14. There are two pantos on Saturday, January 15; a matinée at 2pm and an evening performance at 7.45pm. The final performance will be on Sunday, January 16 at 2pm.
The panto is produced and directed by Peter King and Bill Evans, written by Bradford and Webster and by arrangement with NODA Limited. n Tickets are from £9 and can be bought at: twyrusdrama.org.uk
Help keep Charvil tidy with litter pick
A LITTER picking group is asking for residents to lend their support to its next session later this month.
Charvil Matters, a community group led by Cllr Sam Akhtar, is meeting on Sunday, January 23.
Volunteers will meet at 9am for one hour on Milestone Avenue, in the lay-by opposite the Texaco petrol station. n For more information or to register interest in taking part, contact: charvilmatters@ gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page: facebook.com/ charvilmatters
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Berkeley consults on 2,500 home Twyford Gardens plan for borough n Continued from front page
The plan proposes that 35% of homes would be available through affordable housing schemes. These could be broken down into a mix of affordable rented, key worker and shared ownership properties.
“Every home would be individually designed to respect local character,” a spokesperson for the company said.
The site would also include green open spaces and a newly created woodland, with wetlands, ponds, swales, hedgerows and tree belts worked into the 2,500 home plan.
The company spokesperson said that the masterplan has been designed to “support nature recovery”, with existing habitats enhanced, persevered and joined together with new natural spaces.
“This highly connected and biodiverse landscape would support more wildlife and be open to the community, with green cycling and walking routes and a mix of parks, community gardens, allotments, sports pitches and playing fields,” the spokesperson explained.
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, Liberal Democrat councillor for Twyford said that he would do everything he could to oppose the plans.
“I’m very much against it,” he said. “It’s virtually all on the green belt — it’s inappropriate.”
Cllr Ferris said that a railway station was “pie in the sky” thinking, and believes that Berkeley Group is trying to “sell the development” on its green “benefits”.
“I think that they’re using the railway station to look green but know that it won’t go anywhere,” he said. “I can’t support it at all. It would completely do away with our green spaces in this area and create an urban sprawl.”
Berkeley Group believes that the proposals could be an alternative to additional large-scale developments in the south of the borough, as proposed in the Local Plan Update, which is being consulted on by the borough council until Monday, January 24.
“During the last 10 years, 97% of new homes have been built in the south of the borough, creating pressure on infrastructure as well as a significant shortage of new homes in the north,” the Berkeley Group spokesperson added.
“This imbalance could become more severe in future, as the Local Plan Update proposes 4,500 homes in the south of the borough at Hall Farm, and no strategic development in the north.
“Twyford Gardens could help to address that imbalance through the delivery of a highly sustainable and well-connected neighbourhood, which offers the existing community a mix of valuable new amenities, transport links and economic opportunities.”
On its green belt location, a spokesperson said that local authorities can review green belt boundaries when they update their Local Plans.
“In this case Twyford Gardens is sustainably located close to the borough’s best public transport links, within an area of exceptionally high housing need and would help to reduce development pressures on the south of the borough,” they said.
Cllr Ferris added that he believes the borough is on a “tipping point” between being a semi-rural area, and being classed as “suburbia”, and wants to see the overall housing numbers reduced across the entire borough. n Residents are being encouraged to view the outline proposals and submit comments online at: www. twyfordgardens.co.uk
VISUAL IDEA: An artist’s impression of the outline proposals for Twyford Gardens Picture: Berkeley Group
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Action packed January planned for Wokingham CLASP Wokingham borough’s library events in January
MEMBERS of CLASP can look forward to a busy month of activities in January.
The programme begins on Tuesday, January 11 with Dancing to Music from 10am until 11am. This will be followed by Coffee Club with visitor Tony Burrows from Wokingham Borough Council.
CLASP’s 12-week programme, ShapeUp4Life, will also begin on Tuesday, January 11. Sessions are 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
On Wednesday, January 12 CLASP will run an art session with Rosebuddies.
The learning disability nurses will talk to the group on Friday, January 14, about how to look after their teeth. This will be followed by the choir from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Tuesday, January 18 is a Friendship Alliance café session, with more art with Rosebuddies on Wednesday, January 19.
All are welcome to the CLASP Annual General Meeting on Friday, January 21.
WBC return to CLASP on Tuesday, January 25 to give an update on the local Adult Social Care Workforce.
The Happy and Healthy Club will meet on Wednesday, January 26 with a visit from Amy Owne from Omada.
CLASP will end the month on Friday, January 28. Members have the opportunity to receive first aid training from the Red Cross. n For more information, visit: wokinghamclasp.org.uk WOKINGHAM Borough libraries are running a number of events for both children and adults in January.
Writing groups, a Winter reading challenge and a talk on Victorian Broadmoor are all on offer to residents.
Igniting Writing is for a creative writing group for young people aged 11 to 18. Guest speaker, author Temi Oh, will join the group on Saturday, January 8. It will take place at Wokingham library between 10.30am and noon.
A creative writing group for children aged eight to 10 will run online, from 4pm to 4.45pm on Thursday, January 13.
The Winter Mini Challenge is a reading challenge run by The Reading Agency.
The theme is Wild World Heroes and the activity is in partnership with WWF. Young readers will be encouraged to find out about the creatures who live in the Arctic, as well as about the environmental issues facing the region. Participants need to set a goal for the number of books they would like to read.
The challenge ends on Saturday, January 15.
Mark Stevens will be giving a virtual glimpse behind the walls of Victorian Broadmoor, on Tuesday.
He is county archivist for Berkshire and the Broadmoor archive is one of the collections in his care at Berkshire Record Office, Reading. n For more information or to sign up, email libraries@wokingham.gov.uk
PCC launches survey on precept rise that could add £10 to your council tax
RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on proposed increases to the budget for Thames Valley Police for 2022/23.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, has launched an online survey for feedback on the proposals, which could see the precept rise by £10 for a Band D property – the maximum permitted rise.
On Thursday, December 16, the Home Office announced the funding settlement for police forces across the country.
In Thames Valley, this means an additional £15.5 million Government grant to pay for a further 244 police officers.
The increase in officers is part of the national uplift programme that will aims to recruit 20,000 additional officers across the country by March 2023.
Mr Barber said that he is want the police precept to be spent wisely and deliver the best value for money.
“I am committed to ensuring effective spending across policing, to ensure we employ the maximum number of police officers possible,” he said. “By giving us your feedback, you can help shape decisions about police funding and how Thames Valley Police can continue to work to keep us all safe.”
Mr Barber said that previously, the support of tax payers through their council tax has helped reduce the time it takes for the police to answer non-urgent 101 calls.
He said this money has also been used to increase detection rates, meaning that more victims of crime receive justice and more criminals are held to account. It has also been used to create a rural crime taskforce.
“It is important that if there is any increase in council tax now, at a time when many families are struggling and costs are rising, it is focused on frontline policing to tackle the concerns of the public,” he said.
Alongside funding from the Home Office, the Government has allowed Police and Crime Commissioners to increase council tax by up to £10 for a Band D property in order to make additional investments in policing.
The survey closes at 5pm on Tuesday, January 18. n To find out more, visit: survey. alchemer.eu/s3/90415648/ Council-Tax-Survey-2022-23
Twyford charity offers training for dementia
TWYFORD-BASED charity Understanding Dementia is offering an online training course for those caring for people with dementia.
The eight-week course is free to anybody who is an unpaid carer, who will only need to purchase the accompanying
FOUNDER: Shirley Pearce Picture: Asya Barskaya
booklet.
The course is based on Understanding Dementia’s approach to the condition. It covers topics such as wellbeing, memory and how to deal with distress.
Shirley Pearce, founder of the charity, said that feedback received after previous online courses has been positive.
She encouraged carers to take part.
“If we are prepared to think in a different way about dementia, we can make a real difference to those who live with it,” she said.
There are two classes available. Sessions will take place over Zoom on Monday evenings or Wednesday mornings.
The course booklet costs £3.99 plus postage and packaging. The charge for professional carers is £175. n For more information, email: lucy.w@ understandingdementia.co.uk
Region records lowest serious violence in England and Wales
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
KNIFE CRIME statistics in the region are “remarkably positive” according to the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley.
Matthew Barber said that it is likely that lockdown restrictions had an impact on reducing some crime.
“Even taking this into account, serious violence, including knife crime is down and across Thames Valley,” he said.
Mr Barber said that the latest figures show that, by population, the region has the lowest levels of serious violence of any police force in England and Wales.
“This welcome trend is however no excuse for complacency,” he said. “We’ve all seen the headlines that retell the tragedy of lives lost and families broken.
“These statistics that show the successes of proactive policing are of little comfort to those who have had loved ones ripped away from them in recent months through the unthinking violence of others.
“Too many families faced Christmas with an aching wound that will never fully heal.”
Mr Barber said the issue often goes beyond law enforcement.
“When knives are involved, the difference between a serious assault or a murder can be just a matter of inches, or the speed of the emergency response,” he said. “This truth is even more stark when looking at the age of some of those involved.
“Although the police will be dealing with gangs and drug offences we’re often not talking about hardened criminals, but children who are making — sometime fatal — mistakes.”
He said that police alone cannot solve the problem.
“My Violence Reduction Unit brings together schools, social services, the NHS and others, seeking to get ahead of the problem,” he said.
The organisations work to change attitudes, identify those at risk of becoming involved in violent crime and attempt to prevent things from escalating out of control.
“We all have a role to play,” Mr Barber added.
“If you know or suspect someone is carry a knife, please report it to the police by calling 101.
“Often people are nervous of criminalising family and friends, but early intervention will mean a proportionate response and may prevent the most serious consequences next year, next month or next week. Your call might save a life.”
Mr Barber said that proactive policing, including taking knives off the streets, and stopping young people picking up weapons in the first place are helping to reduce violent crime.
He added: “Of course for those who mourn lives lost or irrevocably altered there are no words of comfort I can offer to ease the pain.
“The evidence is however that we’re moving in the right direction and there is hope that we will see fewer families suffering the same way in the future.”
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DATA:
Matthew Barber, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner said the statistics are remarkably positive
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Professor concerned about biodiversity loss in development
By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local Democracy Reporter
A UNIVERSITY professor has raised concerns about a loss of biodiversity, if 4,500 homes are built at Hall Farm.
Wokingham Borough Council is currently consulting on the Local Plan Update, which will be used to determine housebuilding across the borough into the future.
The proposals include a mass development on land south of the M4, in the Loddon Valley between Shinfield and Arborfield.
Some of the Hall Farm site is on land owned by the University of Reading. It has been welcomed by the institution, in part due to its proximity with its Thames Valley Science Park.
But there are questions over whether the 4,500 home plan aligns with the environmental concerns of the Uuniversity’s leading academics.
Tom Oliver, professor of Applied Ecology at the institution researches loss of biodiversity.
Professor Oliver said that it is vitally important to protect the nation’s declining biodiversity. He said that it underpins the capability for children to be healthy and to prosper.
“The degradation of UK and global biodiversity through a billion small cuts must be stopped,” he said. ”Approaches to restore plants and animals that are lost though development, known as biodiversity offsetting, must be robust.”
He said that schemes need to be regulated, implemented, enforced and evaluated, in order to restore biodiversity and create a net gain, as opposed to increase its decline.
“Places to live should not replace vital biodiversity but instead be closely surrounded by thriving nature that supports the physical and mental health of people,” he explained. “Environmental sustainability is a core principle of the University of Reading strategy and is of fundamental value to our community.
“We have some of the leading experts in the world studying the environment, including in climate change, wildlife, habitats and land use.
“We are also one of the greenest universities in the country, with ambitious and award-winning plans to make all our operations net zero by 2030.”
A spokesperson for the University of Reading said that they support academics to speak independently about their research and world-leading expertise. The spokesperson said that sustainable development must also fit with society’s need to become carbon net zero. “We also recognise the need to improve habitats and species biodiversity, prevent pollution of soil, air and water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” they said.
“These aims can be met alongside sustainable, welldesigned development for housing and employment.”
“We look forward to continue working with Wokingham Borough Council as it progresses its Local Plan Update.”
University discovers head lice on ancient mummies can help recover DNA
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NEW RESEARCH: Scientists have been recovering DNA from mummified remains that date back 1,500 to 2,000 years Pictures: University of Reading
SCIENTISTS at the University of Reading have discovered that human DNA can be extracted from the cement-like substance head lice used to glue their eggs to hairs thousands of years ago.
It is thought that this discovery will provide an important new window into the past.
In a new study, scientists recovered DNA from mummified remains that date back 1,500 to 2,000 years.
This is possible because skin cells from the scalp become encased in the cement-like substance produced by female lice as they attach eggs, known as nits, to the hair.
Analysis of this newly-recovered ancient DNA has revealed clues about pre-Columbian human migration patterns within South America.
It is hoped that this method could allow many more unique samples to be studied from human remains where bone and tooth samples are unavailable.
The research was led by the University of Reading, working in collaboration with the National University of San Juan, Argentina; Bangor University, Wales; the Oxford University Museum of Natural History; and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
It has been published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Dr Alejandra Perotti, associate professor in invertebrate biology at the University of Reading, led the research.
She said: “Like the fictional story of mosquitos encased in amber in the film Jurassic Park, carrying the DNA of the dinosaur host, we have shown that our genetic information can be preserved by the sticky substance produced by headlice on our hair.
“In addition to genetics, lice biology can provide valuable clues about how people lived and died thousands of years ago.”
Dr Perotti said that more researchers are looking into migration and diversity in ancient human populations.
“Headlice have accompanied humans throughout their entire existence, so this new method could open the door to a goldmine of information about our ancestors, while preserving unique specimens,” she explained.
Until now, ancient DNA has mostly been extracted from dense bone from the skull or from inside teeth, as these provide the best quality samples.
However, this can cause severe damage to the specimens which compromise future scientific analysis.
It is also against cultural beliefs to take samples from indigenous early remains.
Recovering DNA from the cement-like substance delivered by lice provides a solution to this problem.
Dr Mikkel Winther Pedersen from the GLOBE institute at the University of Copenhagen, and first author, said that the high amount of DNA yield from the nit cements came as a surprise.
“It was striking to me that such small amounts could still give us all this information about who these people were, and how the lice related to other lice species but also giving us hints to possible viral diseases,” he added.
As well as the DNA analysis, scientists are also able to draw conclusions about a person and the conditions in which they lived from the position of the nits on their hair and from the length of the cement tubes.
Their health and even cause of death can be indicated by the interpretation of the biology of the nits.
Analysis of the recovered DNA revealed a genetic link between three of the mummies and humans in Amazonia 2,000 years ago.
This shows for the first time that the original population of the San Juan province migrated from the land and rainforests of the Amazon in the North of the continent, south of current Venezuela and Colombia.
It also found the earliest direct evidence of Merkel cell Polymavirus.
The virus, discovered in 2008, is shed by healthy human skin and can on rare occasions get into the body and cause skin cancer. It opens up the possibility that head lice could spread the virus.
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DNA: The cement-like substance created by nits trap human skin cells from the scalp, which can be used to extract DNA from ancient human remains
Wokingham mental health charity for young people receives £1,000
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today
YOUNG people in Wokingham with mental health problems have received a welcome boost for the New Year.
ARC Wokingham Youth Counselling was given £1,000 from Tesco’s Community Grants Scheme, with the aim of providing essential help and support to young people for months to come.
The charity offers face-toface sessions at its offices, as well as online sessions, for young people living in the Wokingham borough.
The money will be used to keep these sessions available during the charity’s busiest time of the year.
Paul Cassidy, coordinator at ARC Wokingham Youth Counselling, said he is so grateful for the money.
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” he said. “The build-up to Christmas is exciting for most people, but when it’s over it’s sometimes not gone as well for some young people as they’d have hoped.
“It can be a time of tensions and problems, so it ends up being our busiest time of the year.
“It’s really important that young people have someone to turn to, to talk to, someone who won’t judge them.”
Mr Cassidy said that ARM provides counselling sessions to young people who are struggling with mental and emotional health.
“We help them to make sense of their thoughts and feelings so that they can make choices about what they can do to bring about changes in their life,” he said.
“Of course, in addition to the festive period, many young people have struggled to cope during the pandemic, which has given them reduced contact with family and friends, leading to increased anxiety or a low mood.”
Mr Cassidy said the funding will help ARC continue to offer much-needed support to the young people of Wokingham, whatever the reason for their struggles.
Louise Jedras, Tesco community champion at the Finchampstead Road superstore praised the positive changes ARC makes to young people’s lives.
She added: “We’re delighted to be able to provide this funding for ARC. The work they do is amazing — and it’s never been more important than now, after the past two years.
“The counsellors help young people better understand their life so that they can make a choice about their future and, in doing so, take back control of their own life.”
The Tesco Community Grants scheme awards £500, GIFT: ARC Wokingham Youth Counselling charity received £1,000 from Tesco’s Community Grants Scheme
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£1,000 and £1,500 to charities and organisations.
The scheme is run in partnership with the Groundwork charity.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK chief executive, said that he is delighted to be working with Tesco. “[These] much-needed funds will help to support communities as we recover from the pandemic.” n To apply for a Tesco Community Grant, visit: tescocommunitygrants.org.uk SNOW White will be making a special appearance in Shinfield this month.
The cast at Shinfield Players are performing Snow White and the Four Swedish Popstars, a reworking of the classic fairytale set to the music of ABBA.
It will feature all the usual panto favourites including a dame, a handsome prince, and an evil queen.
Shows will run over two weekends, Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, and Friday, January 21, to Friday, January 23.
On both Fridays, the show begins at 7.30pm. There are two performances on the Saturdays, 2pm and 6.30pm.
The fun starts at 2pm on both Sundays.
Tickets are £7 for children, £13 concessions and £14 adults. n For more details, visit: shinfieldplayers.org.uk
A SPECIAL event is being held in Earley to welcome the dawn this Saturday.
Residents are invited to St Nicolas Church’s garden, off Sutcliffe Avenue, for 7am to welcome the light.
It will be followed by a breakfast for all attendees.
It has been organised by Oakwood Forest Church.
Welcome the dawn this Saturday
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Thames Hospice signs up to Charity Shop Gift Card scheme
SHOP
HERE: Baljit Dhindsa, area manager; Anita Sawa, health care assistant; and Julie Rowley, director of retail at Thames Hospice
A CHARITY with bases across the borough has signed up to a special gift card scheme.
The Charity Shop Gift Card will be sold and accepted in Thames Hospice’s 23 shops. It is the first multi-retailer gift card for charity shops.
Julie Rowley, director of retail at the charity said that it is a fantastic national initiative.
“With more and more people seeing the environmental benefits of charity shopping, we hope it will encourage even more shoppers to come and spend for worthy causes.”
Funds raised through the card will help Thames Hospice support its nurses and doctors providing compassionate care to families facing terminal illness.
It is hoped that the national scheme will help charities tap into the £7 billion gift card market.
Lee Fellows, managing director of The Charity Shop Gift Card, said: “The gift card market is huge and growing, and central to our aim is to come up with a nationally-accepted, multi-retailer scheme that allows charity shops to tap into that for the first time.”
The single-load gift cards are recyclable and compostable. n For more information, visit: www.thecharityshopgiftcard. co.uk
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