Construction underway on new sporting hub in Moredon

By Jamie Hill

Work is underway to build a brand new £6.3m multi-sports community hub in Moredon.

The new Moredon Sporting Hub, just off Akers Way, will offer sport and leisure for all ages and will be aimed at those new to the sports available at the site.

With one month to go until the UK celebrates the 75th anniversary of the NHS, the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are sharing some images that tell the story of healthcare in Swindon.

This collection available to view on GWH’s Facebook features royal visits and aerial views of both the Great Western Hospital and old Princess Margaret site, as well as glimpses at care which was funded by the Great Western Railway Medical Fund.

High Sheriff Concert raises £4,500 for Domestic Abuse Support Services

Organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon under the ‘Swindon Cares’ banner, the concert was hosted by High Sheriff Pradeep Bhardwaj. Through programme advertising and donations, the evening raised over £4,500 which will go to Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services.

Better With Music Cafe heads to Old

Town

The Better With Music Cafe, organised by Sounds Like Women, will take place at Christ Church Community Centre on Saturday 29 July from noon to 4pm. The free musical event will include workshops and singer Melissa James.

It will also be aimed at those who may have stopped playing, but are keen to return to sport and physical activity, as well as those wishing to continue their activity in a better environment.

Highlights of the scheme include:

- Full size floodlight 3G pitch, fully enclosed with metal fencing, suitable for multiteam training and senior and junior matches.

- A 1km regional standard cycling closed road circuit with a number of internal loops and cross over points – allows for three separate groups to use the track at one time

- Grass sports pitches including three football pitches and two cricket pitches.

- New pavilion with enhanced changing areas, café and reception area.

The project will be delivered by four main contractors who will build the pavilion, cycle track and sports pitches. TigerTurf UK and McArdle Sport Tec are constructing the artificial sports pitch, Snape Contracting Services Ltd and Talus Construction are bringing forward the pavilion and Spadeoak is creating the cycle track and new car park.

While the project is being delivered by Swindon Borough Council, once open, the hub will be operated by North Central Swindon Parish Council.

Funding for the sporting hub has come from Swindon Borough Council, Central North Swindon Parish Council, the Premier League, The FA, Government’s Football Foundation and Sport England. The project is scheduled to be finished by next Spring. Visit footballfoundation.org. uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.

Lawn Manor Academy gets crafty for charity

Lawn Manor Academy pupils have been busy creating a range of hand-made keyrings to raise money for the DEC Ukraine and TurkeySyria appeals.

The group of four Year Nine pupils, Hayden, Ellie, Melissa and Helena have raised almost £40 selling keyrings made using Hama beads to fellow pupils.

The four are part of the Connect9+ class, which provides a supportive and nurturing learning environment to pupils with additional needs in order to ensure they leave school achieving the highest academic qualifications that they’re capable of, as well as supporting the development of their social and life skills.

The group approached the project in a business-like way in order to make the most money possible for charity. They started by conducting market research across the school to measure the demand for keyrings, what sort of designs people wanted and what they would be willing to pay.

From this, they worked on their costings and designs, finally making each keyring by hand and selling to fellow pupils for £1 per keyring.

Connect9+ Teacher, Kelda Sproston, said: “The class has worked really hard to raise money for the DEC appeals and we’re really proud of the money they’ve raised for charity.

“The most popular designs were football teams, Disney characters and animals. They were really well received by the other pupils in the school of the school outside of the usual Connect classes area.” www.lawnmanor.org