Cup match will help football in Albania

A FOOTBALL club's managers and coaches will take to the pitch themselves to help children in Albania.

Ian Bright, the manager of Yate United Under-13s and Under-18s, has been visiting Albania for about 12 years with his family, for two weeks in the summer holidays.

On their visits they help out in an orphanage, street children's centre, elderly people’s home and a safe house, and also help run football camps.

This year Ian has persuaded his fellow managers and coaches at the club to stage a charity football match where they will play against each other in front of players, families and friends welcome.

Ian has even had a trophy engraved to present to the winning team, and has named it the Albania Cup.

Ian said: "It’s great that the club are joining us to help raise money for Albania.

"I need to raise money to buy football boots, footballs, medals and equipment.

"I also need to purchase arts and crafts to run activities. All money raised helps to contribute to the work we do while in Albania."

The Albania Cup match will take place on April 21 at 6pm, at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, and supporters are welcome.

It is just one of a number of fundraising events planned.

A few days after the match, Ian

Award for gardeners

THE owner of a garden that has opened to the public for more than 60 years to raise money for charity has been given an award in recognition of her achievement.

Barbara Naish and her daughter Sonya hold open garden days to share the spring flowers at Algars Manor, in Station Road, Iron Acton every year for the National Gardens Scheme.

During that time the family has raised around £47,000 in donations for the charities supported by NGS, including a variety of health, nursing and gardening charities.

The organisation presented Barbara with a garden clock in recognition of their work at its March local garden owners meeting.

The garden will be open next on April 23 for the magnolias, and camellias, rhododendrons and other spring flowers, along with nearby Algars Mill garden.

and friend Tim Fletcher will set out on a mammoth walk of 190 miles over 12 days.

The Wainwright's Coast to Coast Challenge, starting on April 26, is on a long-distance footpath between the west and east coasts of Northern England, starting at St Bees in Cumbria and finishing at Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire.

It passes through three national parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

An online fundraising page has been set up for the challenge at bit.ly/3noVKhP and a Facebook page has been set up called Wainwright's Coast to Coast for Albania.

Last year Ian and a team raised £2,300 for his work in Albania walking the Jurassic Coast from Swanage, Dorset, to Exmouth in Devon.

Coeliac UK local café meet-up

DO you have coeliac disease? Do you need to live gluten Free? Do you know someone who does?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then why not pop along to a new Coeliac UK local café meet-up?

These events are run by Coeliac UK volunteers and offer relaxed and informal support for anyone affected by the disease or needing to live gluten free.

We will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month, starting on April 20, from 10-11.30am at Iron Acton Garden Centre café in Wotton Road.

Just pop in for a chat any time during the event.

The Coeliac UK volunteers will be wearing an orange t-shirt.

The local café meet-up is free to attend, with car parking available.

Why not buy a drink and Gluten Free snack or Gluten Free cake while you're there?

Everyone is welcome, including family, friends and carers (under 18s should be accompanied by a parent or guardian).

You don’t need to be a member of Coeliac UK or live locally to attend.

For further information on the above café meet-up email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

Coeliac UK is a charity for people who need to live without gluten –the website can be found at www.coeliac.org.uk.

Julie McLaren