Monthly Archives: July 2011

Playground to Podium Oxfordshire County Athlete Assessment Day for young people with a disability

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July 13th saw 48 talented young disabled athletes take part in the Oxfordshire County Athlete Assessment Day (CAAD) held atOxfordUniversity’s Iffley Road Sports Complex . The CAAD part of Playground to Podium, led by Sport England (in Partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport), the Youth Sports Trust and Paralympics GB, helps to create a clear and professional disability sport pathway from school sport, through to club participation and on to elite performance.

 

The CAAD gave students the opportunity to take part in Athletics, Boccia, Football, Wheelchair Table Tennis and Basketball showing the sporting skills and talents which led them to be selected for the day. Coaches from the National Governing Bodies put them through a series of challenges which they were assessed and graded on according to their ability. Students are then signposted in the right direction to pursue sports at the level which matches their ability – Social, club or fast track level. The Table Tennis sessions highlighted the sporting talent at the CAAD, 15 students are going to be directed towards a club whilst 11 will be recommended for fast tracking.

 

As well as having the chance to develop their skills in a range of sports the students were also given an inspiration talk from GB Paralympian Jody Cundy, a multiple gold medalist at the Paralympics in two different sports Swimming and Cycling. He described his sporting journey from childhood to the present day talking through his Paralympic finals, showing his gold medals and road bike as well as conducting a question and answer session.

 

Parents were also told about the “Oxfordshire Sports Directory for people with a disability or impairment ”available online at www.oxfordshiresport.org/disabilitysport which tells you about sporting opportunities throughout the county as well as being told about the next stages after the assessment day.

 

 

James Craggs CAAD Manager and Disability & Inclusive Sports Officer for the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership said “ The students thoroughly enjoyed the day especially the chance to meet and speak to a GB Paralympians, they have come out of the day enthused wanting to develop their sporting skills even further”

7th Annual Oxfam Tribute in Honour of Colin Firth as Oxfam Ambassador

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7th Annual Oxfam Tribute in Honour of Colin Firth as Oxfam Ambassador

 

Dear Friends

 

It is that time of year again when fans of Colin Firth, in honour of his 51st birthday, are fund-raising for OxfamAmericain honour of his humanitarian work for Oxfam.  All of Colin’s admirers from ANY site, from ANY country, can contribute to this gift. OxfamAmericasupports the same causes as Colin does through OxfamUK, and often works in conjunction with OxfamUK, so your donation will help facilitate the work Colin supports.  We would be so grateful for your support, and if you like and admire Colin just a little and can afford $15 (£10), please consider donating to our collection.

 

Last year, we collected $6,565, beating our goal of $5,000!  Last year brought our six year total to $33,571.00. Can we possibly raise $6,400.00 this year and surpass $40,000.00? 

 

If you are used to donating to OxfamGB, it has been too difficult, logistically, to collect for both US and UK Oxfams, but the money goes to those who need it, so it shouldn’t make any difference and would help us enormously.   For instance, my second video concentrates on the crisis inEast Africaand this is the link for what Oxfam America is doing: 

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/emergencies/food-crisis-in-east-africa/what-oxfam-is-doing

 

Our Donation Page:  http://tinyurl.com/5s2j2ju

 

Our Facebook page  – 7th Annual Oxfam Birthday Tribute to Colin Firth: 

http://tinyurl.com/facebkFirth51Birthday  Please ‘like’ us!

For the first time, we are running a ‘blind’ auction of Colin Firth Goodies – if you have friends who desire to acquire, please place a bid!  All bids will be opened on the 20 August – the highest wins!  Please see details and photos here:  Facebook page – The Auction: http://tinyurl.com/Firth0xfamAuction

 

Facebook Album of Motivators (do make one or two and post them on our page!)  http://tinyurl.com/FirthMotivators51

 

It would be lovely if you could watch our videos and tick the up-thumb!  Leave a comment, too, if you like!

Colinnut’s video:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU0oSov8Fig&feature=channel_video_title

My Video:  Java Jive: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q61yo8kSjE

My Video:  Honouring Colin Firth:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2th-9eshoQo

 

We would be so grateful for your support and thank you, in advance!

All the best

Annie

APPEAL FOR RUNNERS FOR BUPA GREAT SOUTH RUN

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I would like to make a special appeal to running enthusiasts, who would like to take part in the Bupa Great South Run, the world’s leading 10-mile flat road run, featuring Portsmouth’s historic naval dockyard, on Sunday 30th October. 

The Children’s Trust has a number of guaranteed places for this event, so I would be delighted to hear from any interested runners as soon as possible, but no later than 12th September, which is the final deadline to register with us.   By taking part in this event and running with The Children’s Trust’s team you will be raising money for some of the UK’s most severely disabled children and helping to enhance their lives.  

For own-place runners, it’s not too late to join us.  If you have your own place in the Great South Run, we would love to have you in our team!  

The Children’s Trust, Tadworth is a national charity, which provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs, and rehabilitation to children with an acquired brain injury.

Please help to make a difference – sign-up now to join our team of runners. We ask for a £25 registration fee to cover entry costs, runner’s vest and an information pack with tips on fundraising.   I can be contacted on 01737 365017, or by email: slester@thechildrenstrust.org.uk   or visit: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/greatsouthrun

We also have a number of guaranteed places in other runs, including the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge in Hyde Park London on 11th September.

I look forward to hearing from you!        

Yours faithfully

Sherene Lester

Community Fundraising Assistant

The Children’s Trust, Tadworth

www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk 

German Yodellers visit Wantage

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Four yodellers from Wantage’s twin town of Seesen in Germany entertained members of the German Group of the Wantage , Grove & District Twinning Association with traditional music and songs from the Harz Mountains.

The musicians (members of the  Folklore Choir Harzromantika) joined the 29 visitors as part of the week long exchange visit to Wantage  from 15 – 22nd July  staying with local host families. The group were welcomed on arrival at the Civic Hall by the Wantage Town Mayor Councillor Charlotte Dickson and the Deputy Mayor Councillor M Rope.  During the week, the German guests enjoyed a full programme of visits to London, Cambridge, Oxford, Hungerford and Cheddar Gorge.

The highlight of the visit (courtesy of the Shush Club in Wantage) was a special evening of music and entertainment showcasing local talent given by members of the Wantage Silver Band, Domino Players and Pandemonium together with acts by Jenny Johns and Nigel Thornbory and songs by two local singers Julia Reynolds and Michael Hurd.

The four members of the Harzromantika, dressed in traditional costume then delighted the audience with a selection of traditional yodel songs and a demonstration of bell ringing and whip cracking from the Harz Mountains.

Said Marina Hein , award winning yodeller and leader of the group “This is our first visit to Wantage and we have really enjoyed ourselves and been made to feel so very welcome”.

Three local dance groups, the Vale Islanders, Old Speckled Hen and the Ridgeway Step Clog put on an evening of traditional English dances  for the German visitors at the Fox Inn Denchworth, where they were joined by the members of the Harzromantica in performing a further selection of German songs and music.

Greta Thornbory, Chair of the German Twinning Group said “It has been a wonderful week where we have  made new friends, renewed old friendships and had the opportunity of sharing  the range of talents of our two towns”

The Wantage, Grove & District Twinning Association encourages links and arranges visits between Wantage’s two twin towns of Mably in France and Seesen in Germany..  At the end of August a group from Wantage will be visiting Mably as part of the 20 year celebrations.   Next summer a group from Wantage will be making a return visit to Seesen.  New members of all ages are always welcome.   See www.wantage.com

‘Walk Ten’ for Marie Curie Cancer Care at Coombe Abbey & Country Park, near Coventry, on Saturday 30th July.

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‘Walk Ten’ for Marie Curie Cancer Care at Coombe Abbey & Country Park, near Coventry, supported by HomeServe is a series of unique 10k summer evening walks taking place at 20 magical venues around the country – many of which are usually closed to the public in the evening.

The cost to register is £10, children under 16 go free and people are asked to raise as much as they can for Marie Curie Cancer Care. All the money raised will make an invaluable difference locally, helping Marie Curie Nurses to provide free care to people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.

At the end of every walk there’s a real celebration, with friends and families enjoying fireworks, picnics and music long into the summer evening. At 10pm, the time when Marie Curie Nurses start their night shifts, candles are lit and everyone is silent for a few moments to think about the people being cared for, as well as their own loved ones.

Walk Ten at Coombe Abbey & Country Park promises to be a wonderful and memorable evening and I hope many people can come along to enjoy it.

For more information about your nearest Walk Ten go to www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten or call 08700 340 040.

Yours,

Sue Elliot
Marie Curie Nurse