Good Causes

A family have launched a large fund raising campaign to raise £40,000 for an operation to cure their son of cerebral palsy.

Tracy Smith, 36, of Frobisher Gardens, in Stanwell, needs to to raise the money by October this year so she can send her six-year-old son Oliver to America to cure his mild cerebral palsy.

Six Spelthorne schools started a competition on Saturday (6) for the chance to win their very own allotment.

The competition, which is co sponsored by the Staines Informer was launched at The Elmsleigh Shopping Centre and will see pupils competing for a raised bed allotment and seeds, gardening equipment and expert advice on how to get started.

Pupils from Buckland Primary School, in Berrycroft Road, Staines, Kingscroft Junior School, in Park Avenue, Staines, Manorcroft Primary School, in Manorcrofts Road, Egham, Shortwood Infant School, in Stanwell New Road, Staines, Hythe Primary School, in Thorpe Road, Staines and Stanwell Fields School, in Clare Road, Stanwell, will be encouraging people to vote for their schools.

Neighbourhood watch signs are to be installed in Stanwell thanks to a resident of the town.

Vicki Kapoor Sood, applied to the BT Community Champions award and was given £150 to be used for Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch.

The money was given as Mrs Kapoor Sood is a BT worker, and the scheme gives money to community groups.

Linda Kempton, of Spelthorne NHW, said: "This award is greatly appreciated as it enables us to buy NHW signs for new watches that have been set up in Stanwell, therefore making people aware they are entering an NHW area and encouraging others to join."

Volunteer gardeners from British Gas have made the lives of two elderly residents better.

Sixteen workers from the company were given paid leave for two days each to cut shrubs, build fences, and paint shed in the gardens of two elderly people in their 80s in Stanwell and Staines.

Troublesome youths in Stanwell are being encouraged to try carpentry or plumbing to keep them off the streets.

Spelthorne Council workers hope the visits of a construction bus to Clare Road on Tuesday April 7, Sunday April 12 and four more dates in May and June will keep youngsters from becoming involved in antisocial behaviour.

Stanwell WI held a quiz night earlier this month and raised £503 for flowering baskets to decorate the village during this summer's Spelthorne in Bloom campaign.

The 2009 borough-wide In Bloom campaign kicks off with a special evening at the end of April at Shepperton Studios.

Voluntary Action in Spelthorne is offering charities working in the borough the chance to use free office space at Community Link, based within the council offices at Knowle Green, Staines.

Users have access to meeting and interview rooms as well as equipment such as a photocopier, shredder and laminator.

The Rotary Club of Ashford brought in a record collection of £8,849 this year through their Christmas float touring the streets of Ashford and Stanwell.

The float had to be replaced after it was destroyed by arsonists last year and a replacement was bought through donations from local councillors, businesses and residents.

And the Rotarians were delighted after beating their previous best of £8,756 last year.

An animal-themed nativity was put on at Heathrow Special Needs Farm last week.

About 150 people turned up at the showpiece event in Longford Village, which featured real animals alongside the child actors.

A Christmas fair will be held at St Mary's Church in High Street, Stanwell, on Saturday November 29.

The fair, which includes a children's tombola and festive cakes, will run from midday until 2pm. For more information call Pam Alabaster on 01784 246554.