OLD COULSDON CENTRE FOR THE RETIRED

SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Get involved in helping us to help older people. Volunteers are needed at Grange Park, to help in any of the following:
• Making tea, coffee and snacks.
• Serving lunches.
• Giving lifts to and from our Centre in your own car.
• Driving or acting as escort on the Centre’s minibus, which carries up to 11 passengers. This modern minibus features powered steering, automatic transmission, hydraulic tail lift for a wheelchair, a reversing alarm and a TV reversing aid.
Most people know that the Centre is a local charity located in the heart of Old Coulsdon, close to public transport and al lamenities. We provide an attractive, fully accessible place for older people to spend weekdays, buy nourishing, affordable, hot meals, snacks and refreshments, and enjoy avariety of activities and outings for that feel-good glow!
My time is precious to me.
Sometimes only a couple of hours a month can change someone else’s life. Many of our Centre users would not be able to benefit from what we offer without people willing to help in our Centre or give them lifts. Others need friendly help to get to their Doctors, Dentists, Opticians, hospital, therapy centre, etc.
What about expenses?
Car drivers who become registered volunteers for the Centre would qualify for reimbursement of the costs incurred for all journeys organised by the Centre. Croydon Primary Care Trust and Croydon Council make funds available for these repayments. The registration process for new volunteers includes a simple form and supplying references etc so we can reassure all our members that those helping them are trustworthy.
How do I get involved?
If you would like to discuss volunteering with the Centre or as a driver; or if you would like to visit the Centre for meals, etc, please contact the Centre on 01737 554386 between 10am and 4pm on normal weekdays.

Following the January Newsletter, we have received several letters, emails and phone calls from local residents regarding what they would like to see on the Cane Hill site. Not surprisingly, many of these communications follow very similar lines. We recognise the fact that extra housing will form part of the deal, but hopefully extra housing on Cane Hill will prevent the current practice of demolishing one or two houses and infilling the site with numerous flats, especially if the extra houses are accompanied by all the necessary services in terms of schools, doctors, dentists etc;we recognise the fact that Croydon Council are still very partial to their idea of having a Science Park, but as long as that means local employment, then fine. One thing that appears constant throughout the various communications that we have received, is that people feel that we should seize this opportunity to build a leisure complex, somewhere that could provide indoor sporting activities; a softplay room for toddlers, facilities for badminton, table tennis, trampolining, squash and indoor soccer, a swimming pool; as well as perhaps an outdoor area, away from any housing, that could be used as a skate park. If we are going to get the local youths off the streets then we have to give them somewhere to go and something to do.
If you have ideas, either along these lines, or perhaps some ideas of your own that are on a totally different track, then tell us. However, if you can also tell your local councillor sand/or your MP, so much the better. We have been told that there will be consultation with the local residents regarding the future usage of the Cane Hill site. It’s now down to you to make sure that your voice is heard.
CWRA Committee Rep, Chris Hunt

Smitham Allotments Plan Centenary Celebrations

In 1908, an area of land between Chipstead Valley Road and the railway line, now known as The Smitham Allotments, was covenanted to the people of Coulsdon for the growing of fruit and vegetables. This year, therefore, the Smitham Allotment Society is celebrating its centenary. The celebrations are already under way. You may have seen posters in the local shops for a children's competition to design a centenary garden. There was a tremendous response thanks to support from local schools with over 100 entries and the lads down at the allotments are working hard to build the winning garden by a student of Smitham Primary School. The judges were also very impressed by a design submitted by a six year old student of St Aidan's Primary School and that design will be used as the logo to advertise an Open Day to be held on Sunday 13 July at which the Centenary Garden will be officially opened. All local residents are invited to join the allotment holders in this day of festivities. As well as providing a unique opportunity to view the allotments and buy plants and produce, there are plans to have a barbecue, Pimms tent, tombola and many other attractions. Ian Currie, our local weather expert, has agreed to give a talk on climate change in Coulsdon. Entry will be free and any profits from the day will be donated to charity.

Smitham Nursery School
Is Your Child 3 Years Old?
Smitham Nursery opened in 2002 and is set within our extensive school grounds.
It offers up to 52 places at any one time and provides children with a rich and creative learning environment, helping them to develop as confident and independent young people.
We still have a few places available from September 2006. Please do contact us to arrange a visit.
Tel: 0208 660 4399
Email: admin@smitham.croydon.sch.uk

Committee Members needed Urgently

The CWRA desperately need new Committee members. The Chairman does not overstate the case when he says that we could disband by the end of this year unless more volunteers are forthcoming. We need people with a variety of outlooks, a variety of interests, a variety of skills, and a couple of spare hours a month. Volunteers of any age are welcome, and with the forthcoming development of the Cane Hill Site, people sympathetic to the needs of local youngsters would be especially welcome. Many hands make light work …and at the moment we are short by at least 3 people, with further shortages imminent!
Please contact any Committee Member now!

Internet Safety

For those on broadband a useful utility called CallingID can be downloaded from www.callingid.com. This verifies that a site is safe for you to send personal data and protects against those false links on phishing email supposedly from banks, EBay etc. CallingID is available for both Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers and verifies the identity of the site you have connected too.

Want to swim locally?

You are warmly invited to join the Old Coulsdon Swimming Club, which uses the pool at Coulsdon College in Placehouse Lane, Old Coulsdon on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings as well as Saturday afternoons from the beginning of April to the end of September. The club offers open, non-competitive swimming sessions for all ages. No lessons or training are provided. Membership costs just £36 for an adult and £18 for under 16s. Children under 5 are free. That works out to less than 40p per swim for an adult member.
For further information call Stephen Wise 01737 552295 or e-mail him at stephen@wise141.freeserve.co.uk