Category: News

Businessman donates new van to Market Walk charity shop

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A GENEROUS businessman has stumped up thousands of pounds to buy a brand new delivery van for a Chorley charity shop.

Managers at The Children’s Society shop in Market Walk shopping centre were facing the troublesome dilemma of whether to carry out expensive repairs for their old van or somehow find the cash for a new one when guardian angel, Brendan Ainscough, came along.

The father-of-three from Preston, who is director of the Wigan based industrial services company, Ainscough Vanguard, donated more than £16,000 for the van.

The valuable vehicle will be used by the charity to collect large donations from people who are unable to get them to the shop themselves and to shift stock between the 15 Children’s Society shops in the north west to ensure each donation has the best chance of being sold.

Denise Trafford, manager of the Chorley store, said: “When it arrived, the volunteers just could not believe their eyes and it has created such a feel good factor among the team because we really didn’t know what we were going to do about our old van which was on its last legs.

“I have already been out for a drive in it and it is absolutely fantastic and I know I speak for everyone when I say thank you to Brendan for his amazing generosity.

The mum-of-two, 44, from Chorley, added: “The fact we have had it all painted with our logo is brilliant because it helps us to distance ourselves from the people out there who give the impression they are collecting for a good cause when actually what they do is sell the items on for profit and may only give a tiny amount of that to charity.

“When people see our van, they will know that all the money raised from the donations which they give to us goes directly back to the charity.”

The Children’s Society is a Christian charity which is dedicated to giving young people a better chance in life. The charity has more than 75 programmes and children’s centres throughout England which offer care, legal support, respite and mentoring schemes to help children from all different backgrounds facing all sorts of difficult situations.

Brendan, 57, heard about the Chorley shop’s van problems via Children’s Society regional manager Debbie Schwarzer when they attended the same family gathering.

He said: “Debbie asked me whether we had any vans for sale from our own fleet and that is how the conversation started so I asked her to leave it with me so I could have a think about it.

“We did consider giving them one of our ex-fleet vehicles but I decided the easiest thing to do would be to buy them a new one so we could get them exactly what they needed and they had something reliable with many years of service ahead of it.

“I am just very pleased to be able to help the charity because it is a fantastic job that these guys do and if this new van does its bit to make their lives a bit easier, then it has been a success.”

Annalisa Johnson, marketing manager for Market Walk, said: “The delivery of the new van is an incredibly generous donation by Brendan and I would also like to say a big thank you from the shopping centre for supporting the Chorley Children’s Society shop in this way.

“His act of great kindness will help to ensure the Chorley store continues to thrive and as a very valued retailer of ours, we are very pleased to hear this has happened too.”

Do you have a large donation for The Children’s Society which you cannot take to the Market Walk shop? Call 01257 264501 to ask about collection in the new van.

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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Four awards for North Wales builder

ANWYL...THE NEW LEARNING ZONE BUILD AT NORTHOP COLLEGE.

One of North Wales’s top builders has scooped four major awards.

Anwyl Construction has won in four different categories across North Wales in the annual Local Authority Building Control awards.

They have scooped two awards in Flintshire and one each in Denbighshire and Gwynedd.

The Rhyl-based company, which employs 150 staff across the region, has won in Flintshire for the best educational building – the innovative new Small Animals Centre at Northop College – and for the best dwelling.

On home turf in Denbighshire their Parc St Francis, Prestatyn, development was voted the Best Social/Affordable Housing Development and in Gwynedd Neuadd Reichel at Bangor University got the nod for Best Apartments.

At Parc St Francis, a £6.8 million development, 15 of the 51 houses were affordable properties while the £3 million Neuadd Reichel at Bangor saw 126 student apartments refitted.

Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl said: “We’re naturally delighted to have once again been very successful in the North Wales Building Control County Awards.

“We consider them a hugely important accolade and a benchmark for the construction industry in North Wales.

“It’s always nice to have your work recognised and to have it done by the people whose job it is to oversee all the building work that goes on across North Wales is very satisfying.

“It’s especially nice for the site managers who have been in charge of the various developments and for their staff who have worked very hard on these projects.”

At Northop College Anwyl will be doing for a double success because last year they won the award for best educational building for the new Learning Centre at the College which is part of Deeside College.

The Small Animal Centre is a ground-breaking £1.8 million project which was opened last month by Welsh Government Deputy Skills Minister Jeff Cuthbert and BBC wildlife presenter Iolo Williams.

It features viewing areas and temperature controlled environments for some exotic creatures such as iguanas, monkeys, and even an eight-foot carpet python as well as an impressive aquarium area with fish from all types of water environments, with a dog grooming parlour, outside aviaries and kennels also available at the centre.

Anwyls built in key ‘green’ features such as rainwater harvesting, sun pipes providing natural lighting, air source pump heating and a roof garden.

Tom Anwyl added: “This was a complex and very interesting project to be involved in and one of just a number that we have carried out for Deeside College and for a number of prestigious further education colleges and universities across from Wrexham to Anglesey.

“We do feel it is important to work with the local authority building control departments in North Wales.

“We choose to use them because we have a good working relationship with them which has been built up over the years. You can talk to them about issues and it works very well for both sides.”

Anwyl Construction will now see the four county winners go forward to a glittering occasion at St David’s Park Hotel in Ewloe for the North Wales awards on Friday, April 27.

The company are one of Wales’s oldest established building firms having been founded in 1930 and the Head of Denbighshire Building Control, Robin Johnstone said: “Anwyl Construction are serial winners of our awards, they have a good working relationship with us and they always make sure they deliver a good package for new home owners and businesses.”

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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Heart op survivor to lead T K Maxx store staff cycle ride for charity

Charlie Esfandiarinia with his partner Vanessa Morgan, front left and other ,e,bers of staff a TK Maxx in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury ready for teir big charity fundraising effort.

A quadruple heart bypass operation survivor is to lead T K Maxx store staff on a 100-mile charity cycle ride.

Charlie Esfandiarina, a prison officer at Shrewsbury Gaol, will do the ride to raise money for the fund in aid of Cancer Research UK at the store in Shrewsbury’s bustling Darwin Centre.

His partner, Vanessa Morgan, is a shop assistant at the store and she and other members of staff will join him for sections of the route.

TK Maxx Store Manager Elena D’Alesio said: “As a store we want to raise as much as possible and we are delighted Vanessa’s partner, Charlie, is doing a sponsored cycle ride of 100 miles in a day to raise even more funds for Cancer research UK.”

Charlie, who came to the UK from his native Iran in the early 70s, says he enjoys cycling and thought it would be a good way to boost the amount of cash raised by the Darwin Centre store.

He added: “I took up cycling after my quadruple heart by-pass about eight years ago. I used to play a lot of rugby but I’m getting too old for that I am afraid! I enjoy cycling as I find running a bit hard on the knees and other joints.

“When Vanessa told me about the fund-raising the store was doing I thought a sponsored ride would be a good way to raise some extra cash. I will be joined by several members of the store’s staff who will be joining me for parts of the ride.

“I’ve worked out a circular 100 mile route taking in Montgomery, Bishop’s Castle, Craven Arms, Much Wenlock and Uffington before returning to Shrewsbury. I think it will take me around 10 hours including a rest break or two.

“It is certainly worth it to raise funds for a very important charity. I’ll be starting nice and early on Thursday, April 26. Anyone who wants to sponsor me can do so at the TK Maxx shop in the Darwin Centre.”

It is just one of a number of fund-raising efforts by staff at the store this month for Cancer Research UK including having a special donations cage installed on the shop floor in the Darwin Centre.

T K Maxx staff are handing out collection bags for customers to fill with unwanted clothes and bric-a-brac items that can be stored in the cage and later sold through Cancer Research UK charity shops with each bag raising an average of £30.

Elena D’Alesio added that TK Maxx had raised £10 million for Cancer Research UK since 2004 with £6 million being used specifically to fund research into beating cancer in children.

She said: “This year, as a company, we want to raise a further £2.5 million to help even more children survive cancer.

“We will be raising money in store by giving out charity bags which we hope our customers will fill with clothes, books, CDs, DVDs and bric-a-brac, in fact anything unbreakable.

“Across the company our target is 80,000 bags from customers and with each bag on average raising £30 that’s a huge amount of money.”

Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “It’s a tremendous effort by Charlie to pitch in like this to help the charity.

“Staff at T K Maxx and so many of the stores at the centres raise so much money every year for charity that it really shows just how seriously they take their roles as very much part of the local community.”

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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New Food Trail takes tourists on a tasty tour of the Clwydian Range

Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Food Alun Davies at the launch of the Clwydian Range Food Trail . Deputy Minister For Food Alun Davies is presented with a food hamper from Robert Price, Cadwyn Clwyd Agri-Food Project Officer for Denbighshire and Flintshire, and David Jones, Chairman of the Food Trail.

A brand new Food Trail aimed at introducing visitors to the gastronomic delights of the scenic Clwydian Range has been launched by Wales’s own Minister for Food.

And Alun Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries reckons that once tourists have had a taste of Wales they’ll be hooked.

He was at the award-winning Caffi Florence restaurant at Loggerheads Country Park near Mold for the launch of the Clwydian Range Food Trail which has been produced by rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd and will guide foodies through the county’s culinary culture.

Caffi Florence and the Tweedmill Factory Outlet, near St Asaph, are the twin gateways to the new trail and Alun Davies said: “Not only is Welsh food and drink a big part of our daily lives, it is also a vital part of Welsh culture. Food is so important to tourism and the Welsh economy, and the Welsh Government remains committed to strengthening the industry.

“For most visitors, sampling local food and drink is a highlight of their trip, and it is something they take home and tell others about.

“This food trail is a great way to introduce visitors to the wealth of good food that rural Denbighshire produces and sets a good example for others looking to follow suit.

“Good food attracts tourists and encourages them to return. And tourists in turn, provide a very important market for food producers and the hospitality industry.

“Throughout Wales we are producing excellent food and drink and we need to make sure that the rest of the World knows this.”

The Clwydian Range Food Trail, available in leaflet form, has been developed with funding from the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

Robert Price, Cadwyn Clwyd’s Agri-Food Project Officer, said: “This is a very special project about creating a direct link between visitors and the producers and retailers of what are top class products.

“This is not just food, this is food from the hills and valleys of Denbighshire.

“It is special and of the highest quality and it is produced and prepared to the highest standards and the people on this Food Trail really care that the consumer enjoys it and wants to come back for more.

“Through this Trail we want to help them discover the richness, variety and quality that we have to offer in this part of Wales and to be able to tap into the knowledge that we have here about food.”

The Trail has also been welcomed by Dewi Davies, Regional Strategy Director for Tourism Partnership North Wales, who said: “We have a wealth of fantastic scenery in the Clwydian Range and it’s great to capitalise on that with the fantastic food offer here.

“The Trail will introduce our visitors to all those great tastes that are produced by our countryside economy and to start at the popular visitor destinations of the Tweedmill and Loggerheads is a
great way of ensuring that they stayin the area longer and spend more thus protecting local jobs.”

The Trail is a gourmet guide to the region, starting either at the Tweedmill or at Caff Florence and taking in butchers, bakers, delicatessens, farm shops, a trout farm, cheese and yoghurt makers, a
pate producer, a cider maker and even a chocolate shop.

Ron Squire, Café Manager at Tweedmill, said: “Here at Tweedmill we have up to 2,000 visitors a day and it is important to us that we give them a taste of Wales so we’re delighted to be a gateway to the Food Trail.

“We are branding ourselves as Blas Clwyd, the Taste of the Vale of Clwyd, and we try wherever possible to use local and regional produce – even our coffee is roasted in North Wales even if
it’s not grown here.

“We are really committed to supporting local business and to promoting Wales and that certainly applies to the food and drink that we serve.”

Jane Clough, of Caffi Florence, who lists the local producers who supply her on a board at the restaurant, said: “This is a fantastic way for us to better promote the great local produce there
is here.

“We always list our local producers because our raison d’etre as a café is to use locally-sourced food and the more we can enourage our customers to buy from local producers the better.

“Now the Food Trail will help them go straight to those producers and retailers and buy from them.”

David Jones, Chairman of the Food Trail Group, who runs a Bed and Breakfast at Efenechtyd, near Ruthin, said: “The Vale of Clwyd really is a hidden gem and we hope this will attract more people to the area.

“This is the first such trail in North Wales and we believe as well as attracting visitors it will make people here more aware of what they have and help tourism providers and food producers network among themselves to source local products and services.”

An Open Day to celebrate the Clwydian Range Food Trail will be held next Saturday, April 21, at Loggerheads and the Trail also has its own website www.foodtrail.co.uk

Cadwyn Clwyd continues to look for innovative projects to support which help safeguard the area’s natural, cultural and heritage assets and maximise their economic potential for local businesses and communities.

To find out more or share your idea for a project call 01824 705802 or email admin@cadwynclwyd.co.uk

Thursday April 26th, 2012

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