Category: News

Trip to Africa for Clarks fundraiser

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AN appeal for unwanted shoes has led a young woman on an inspirational journey to Africa.

Amy Coward, 23, who works as a stock room team leader at the Clarks store in Bolton’s Crompton Place shopping centre, is an ambassador for the company’s Shoebiz Appeal and has been out to Africa to see just how the money she helps raise is spent.

The nationwide Clarks appeal collects unwanted shoes and recycles them using the money raised to support UNICEF projects, particularly in Africa.

Amy, from Horwich, a former St Joseph’s RC High School and Sports College pupil, said it doesn’t matter what brand of shoes are handed in for recycling and they want men’s, women’s and children’s shoes in any condition.

She said: “It really doesn’t matter what condition donated shoes are in and they don’t have to be Clarks. They all have a value when broken down into constituent parts for recycling. People can hand in anything from wellies to stilettos, it really doesn’t matter.

“The more shoes we can collect and recycle then the more money we can raise to help fund UNICEF projects.

“I am really proud of Clarks for supporting this appeal and I’m so excited about the project and inspired after seeing how the money we raise has such a massive impact on the lives of children all over the world.”

Amy visited the African country of Zambia and says seeing the UNICEF-run projects up close has really inspired her.

She said: “I was really, really nervous before going out to Zambia. You see so much on the news so I was prepared for the poverty and that the people I was going to meet have such different lives.

“However, everyone was so happy and content despite having so little. We began in the capitol, Lusaka and, although poverty isn’t as bad there compared to the surrounding countryside, people still need help.

“We began by visiting the Linda Open Community School which was formed thanks to UNICEF in 1994 when it had just 150 pupils. That has risen to 726 pupils today.”

Amy also visited other projects in the interior of Zambia where she says there is an even greater need to help children and their families.

She said: “We looked at a school project called Room to Read in Kafue where children and adults are supplied with books. The problem is a lot of the adult population are illiterate and are therefore unable to help their children read.

“By teaching the adults through a literacy project it helps the children in the long term too.”

She added: “I also visited Amundame Market Crèche in Kipiri. The market is the only source of income for many families, most of whom live around the edge of the market.

“By organising a crèche with the support of UNICEF, mums now have somewhere to leave their children while they work in the market. Without the crèche many children would simply be left to fend for themselves as their mums have no other choice.

“From 2004 to the present time more than 620 pupils have been helped and kept safe.”

Amy, and colleagues from other UK Clarks stores, also saw how work to raise awareness of HIV and Aids was having a big effect.

Amy said: “The Community School Project, which started in 2007, helps promote the awareness of these terrible diseases and offers an intervention programme. UNICEF funds the programme and ensures the prevention message gets across.

“The problem is so many of the local people have no idea how Aids develops or how to prevent the spread of HIV. There are so many misconceptions and by teaching people from different villages it is hoped they can go back and pass on the important messages.”

Malcolm Angus, Centre Manager, said Amy’s passion and knowledge for her cause was an inspiration.

He said: “Amy is a terrific example of some of the amazing work which goes on among staff at Crompton Place shopping centre.

“I would urge our shoppers to remember to bring any unwanted shoes with them next time they visit and help support her ongoing efforts.”

Also impressed is manager of the Crompton Place Clarks branch, Helen Read, who said: “It is such a brilliant charity and Amy is so passionate, dedicated and determined to make a difference. She has certainly inspired all 17 members of staff here at Clarks and keeps us on our toes.

“All the staff bring in bags of unwanted shoes for recycling thanks to Amy and she is always running some fundraising competition or another. The fact she went to Zambia is inspiring and she gave the staff a presentation of her work in Africa when she came back.”

Amy added: “Going to Africa has taught me so much and given me a real passion for the work of UNICEF. I am really pleased to be an ambassador for Clarks and their Shoebiz Appeal.

Amy has organised a 1950’s style pin-up party at Ridgemont House, Horwich, on Sunday, July 29 between 1pm and 5pm.

Tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children and include a catwalk show and afternoon tea. Vintage makeovers will also be on offer and 1950s dress is optional.

For more information visit www.polkadotsandpearls.co.uk

Drop in your unwanted shoes to the specially designated bin in Clarks at Crompton Place during opening hours at any time.

For more information on Crompton Place go to ton-place.co.uk/">www.crompton-place.co.uk

Friday May 25th, 2012

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Businessman donates new van to Market Walk charity shop

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A GENEROUS businessman has stumped up thousands of pounds to buy a brand new delivery van for a Chorley charity shop.

Managers at The Children’s Society shop in Market Walk shopping centre were facing the troublesome dilemma of whether to carry out expensive repairs for their old van or somehow find the cash for a new one when guardian angel, Brendan Ainscough, came along.

The father-of-three from Preston, who is director of the Wigan based industrial services company, Ainscough Vanguard, donated more than £16,000 for the van.

The valuable vehicle will be used by the charity to collect large donations from people who are unable to get them to the shop themselves and to shift stock between the 15 Children’s Society shops in the north west to ensure each donation has the best chance of being sold.

Denise Trafford, manager of the Chorley store, said: “When it arrived, the volunteers just could not believe their eyes and it has created such a feel good factor among the team because we really didn’t know what we were going to do about our old van which was on its last legs.

“I have already been out for a drive in it and it is absolutely fantastic and I know I speak for everyone when I say thank you to Brendan for his amazing generosity.

The mum-of-two, 44, from Chorley, added: “The fact we have had it all painted with our logo is brilliant because it helps us to distance ourselves from the people out there who give the impression they are collecting for a good cause when actually what they do is sell the items on for profit and may only give a tiny amount of that to charity.

“When people see our van, they will know that all the money raised from the donations which they give to us goes directly back to the charity.”

The Children’s Society is a Christian charity which is dedicated to giving young people a better chance in life. The charity has more than 75 programmes and children’s centres throughout England which offer care, legal support, respite and mentoring schemes to help children from all different backgrounds facing all sorts of difficult situations.

Brendan, 57, heard about the Chorley shop’s van problems via Children’s Society regional manager Debbie Schwarzer when they attended the same family gathering.

He said: “Debbie asked me whether we had any vans for sale from our own fleet and that is how the conversation started so I asked her to leave it with me so I could have a think about it.

“We did consider giving them one of our ex-fleet vehicles but I decided the easiest thing to do would be to buy them a new one so we could get them exactly what they needed and they had something reliable with many years of service ahead of it.

“I am just very pleased to be able to help the charity because it is a fantastic job that these guys do and if this new van does its bit to make their lives a bit easier, then it has been a success.”

Annalisa Johnson, marketing manager for Market Walk, said: “The delivery of the new van is an incredibly generous donation by Brendan and I would also like to say a big thank you from the shopping centre for supporting the Chorley Children’s Society shop in this way.

“His act of great kindness will help to ensure the Chorley store continues to thrive and as a very valued retailer of ours, we are very pleased to hear this has happened too.”

Do you have a large donation for The Children’s Society which you cannot take to the Market Walk shop? Call 01257 264501 to ask about collection in the new van.

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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Four awards for North Wales builder

ANWYL...THE NEW LEARNING ZONE BUILD AT NORTHOP COLLEGE.

One of North Wales’s top builders has scooped four major awards.

Anwyl Construction has won in four different categories across North Wales in the annual Local Authority Building Control awards.

They have scooped two awards in Flintshire and one each in Denbighshire and Gwynedd.

The Rhyl-based company, which employs 150 staff across the region, has won in Flintshire for the best educational building – the innovative new Small Animals Centre at Northop College – and for the best dwelling.

On home turf in Denbighshire their Parc St Francis, Prestatyn, development was voted the Best Social/Affordable Housing Development and in Gwynedd Neuadd Reichel at Bangor University got the nod for Best Apartments.

At Parc St Francis, a £6.8 million development, 15 of the 51 houses were affordable properties while the £3 million Neuadd Reichel at Bangor saw 126 student apartments refitted.

Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl said: “We’re naturally delighted to have once again been very successful in the North Wales Building Control County Awards.

“We consider them a hugely important accolade and a benchmark for the construction industry in North Wales.

“It’s always nice to have your work recognised and to have it done by the people whose job it is to oversee all the building work that goes on across North Wales is very satisfying.

“It’s especially nice for the site managers who have been in charge of the various developments and for their staff who have worked very hard on these projects.”

At Northop College Anwyl will be doing for a double success because last year they won the award for best educational building for the new Learning Centre at the College which is part of Deeside College.

The Small Animal Centre is a ground-breaking £1.8 million project which was opened last month by Welsh Government Deputy Skills Minister Jeff Cuthbert and BBC wildlife presenter Iolo Williams.

It features viewing areas and temperature controlled environments for some exotic creatures such as iguanas, monkeys, and even an eight-foot carpet python as well as an impressive aquarium area with fish from all types of water environments, with a dog grooming parlour, outside aviaries and kennels also available at the centre.

Anwyls built in key ‘green’ features such as rainwater harvesting, sun pipes providing natural lighting, air source pump heating and a roof garden.

Tom Anwyl added: “This was a complex and very interesting project to be involved in and one of just a number that we have carried out for Deeside College and for a number of prestigious further education colleges and universities across from Wrexham to Anglesey.

“We do feel it is important to work with the local authority building control departments in North Wales.

“We choose to use them because we have a good working relationship with them which has been built up over the years. You can talk to them about issues and it works very well for both sides.”

Anwyl Construction will now see the four county winners go forward to a glittering occasion at St David’s Park Hotel in Ewloe for the North Wales awards on Friday, April 27.

The company are one of Wales’s oldest established building firms having been founded in 1930 and the Head of Denbighshire Building Control, Robin Johnstone said: “Anwyl Construction are serial winners of our awards, they have a good working relationship with us and they always make sure they deliver a good package for new home owners and businesses.”

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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Heart op survivor to lead T K Maxx store staff cycle ride for charity

Charlie Esfandiarinia with his partner Vanessa Morgan, front left and other ,e,bers of staff a TK Maxx in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury ready for teir big charity fundraising effort.

A quadruple heart bypass operation survivor is to lead T K Maxx store staff on a 100-mile charity cycle ride.

Charlie Esfandiarina, a prison officer at Shrewsbury Gaol, will do the ride to raise money for the fund in aid of Cancer Research UK at the store in Shrewsbury’s bustling Darwin Centre.

His partner, Vanessa Morgan, is a shop assistant at the store and she and other members of staff will join him for sections of the route.

TK Maxx Store Manager Elena D’Alesio said: “As a store we want to raise as much as possible and we are delighted Vanessa’s partner, Charlie, is doing a sponsored cycle ride of 100 miles in a day to raise even more funds for Cancer research UK.”

Charlie, who came to the UK from his native Iran in the early 70s, says he enjoys cycling and thought it would be a good way to boost the amount of cash raised by the Darwin Centre store.

He added: “I took up cycling after my quadruple heart by-pass about eight years ago. I used to play a lot of rugby but I’m getting too old for that I am afraid! I enjoy cycling as I find running a bit hard on the knees and other joints.

“When Vanessa told me about the fund-raising the store was doing I thought a sponsored ride would be a good way to raise some extra cash. I will be joined by several members of the store’s staff who will be joining me for parts of the ride.

“I’ve worked out a circular 100 mile route taking in Montgomery, Bishop’s Castle, Craven Arms, Much Wenlock and Uffington before returning to Shrewsbury. I think it will take me around 10 hours including a rest break or two.

“It is certainly worth it to raise funds for a very important charity. I’ll be starting nice and early on Thursday, April 26. Anyone who wants to sponsor me can do so at the TK Maxx shop in the Darwin Centre.”

It is just one of a number of fund-raising efforts by staff at the store this month for Cancer Research UK including having a special donations cage installed on the shop floor in the Darwin Centre.

T K Maxx staff are handing out collection bags for customers to fill with unwanted clothes and bric-a-brac items that can be stored in the cage and later sold through Cancer Research UK charity shops with each bag raising an average of £30.

Elena D’Alesio added that TK Maxx had raised £10 million for Cancer Research UK since 2004 with £6 million being used specifically to fund research into beating cancer in children.

She said: “This year, as a company, we want to raise a further £2.5 million to help even more children survive cancer.

“We will be raising money in store by giving out charity bags which we hope our customers will fill with clothes, books, CDs, DVDs and bric-a-brac, in fact anything unbreakable.

“Across the company our target is 80,000 bags from customers and with each bag on average raising £30 that’s a huge amount of money.”

Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “It’s a tremendous effort by Charlie to pitch in like this to help the charity.

“Staff at T K Maxx and so many of the stores at the centres raise so much money every year for charity that it really shows just how seriously they take their roles as very much part of the local community.”

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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