West Swindon's
agazine
Wakkies
4 Aff
No. 95 February 1990 Circulation 10,000
'Back to the Future' Bus comes to West Swindon Elizabeth Wood reports on the chance for women to visit a mobile information and advice service on 22 February A national campaign has been launched in conjunction with Job Centres and Radio 4's Woman's Hour to help women who wish to return to work. As part of this campaign an Action Bus will betouringthe country during the next few weeks and on 22 February the bus is visiting West Swindon. Brenda Lyle from Swindon Job Centre said "In Swindon we are setting up a local service to act as a link between women returning to work and employers. We are setting up an information centre on training available, childcare provision and so on. Employers are already aware of the need to attract women into jobs because of the falling number of school leavers. We hope that the Action Bus will stimulate interest and act as a focus for the campaign. We chose West Swindon in particular because we feel that there is a large number of potential women returners in this area." The bus will be staffed by people from the local Job Centre who can give advice and information. Women who are thinking about returning to work can register the details of the kind of work they are looking for, their training requirements and their needs for childcare. These details can then be matched to the jobs and facilities that are available. The bus will be at the Asda Car Park, West Swindon Centre from 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m. on 22 February. For further details telephone the Swindon Job Centre on 533601 and ask for Job Link.
1b
Leisure Suite Blunsdon House Hotel Blunsdon 721701 ext 124 Monday to Saturday
Let's not forget Ethiopia Collection point at West Swindon Centre during February With all the media attention lately turned towards eastern Europe and the winter hardships experienced by the peoples of Romania, it is unfortunate that the plight of the starving in parts of Africa is being ignored.
Why did Thamesdown's Mayor have a Roman escort on 20 January?
Find out on page 12
Help raise £1,500 for West Swindo children with special needs. A local insurance broker is organising a grand raffle fo Westlea School and offering £250 in prizes. On page i we visit the school to look at their efforts to give eve child the chance to develop their full potential.
But it is now, early 1990, that the famine predicted a few months ago will be taking hold unlessrelief suppliesget through. Large areas of northern Ethiopia are affected where the rains have failed, resulting in a 85% to 90% loss of the hoped for harvest. Some 4 million people in the Tigray and Eritrea parts of the country are thought to be caught up in the famine area, which is also racked by a long running civil war. Despite the lack of media exposure in recent weeks, the television coverage at the end of 1989 when severely malnourished people were shown gathering in growing numbers at relief camps has raised large amount large amounts of money, according to RogerJames, South West Area Campaigns Organiser for Oxfam. "The Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal raised over £4.5 million during the Christmas period," he said. "Although Ethiopia is not in the news at present, there is a huge basic concern amongst British people for the people in the camps. "We're now in the danger period. The harvest failed some months ago and what little reserves were available have been used up. Oxfam, working with several other relief agencies, is providing large quantities of emergency food aid. Money is also being spent on long term help to try and get the agricultural system ready for the next harvest." Mr James also said it was unfortunate that there was more media coverage when people are actually starving, rather than highlighting the effort needed beforehand to prevent famine. However he thought there had been a magnificent response at the end of last year, but the need for emergency aid continues. He also wanted to point out that Oxfam has donated £100,000 in medical aid to Romania. The Oxfam shop in Faringdon Road, Swindon will take donations and cheques can be sent to Oxfam, 67 Cotham Hill, Bristol BS65JX. There is also a container in The Mail at the West Swindon Centre where donations can be left during February.