Rotary Club help worthy causes
Pictured at Elpha Lodge are: Front row (seated L to R) residents: Peter Horne, Trudy Anderson and Joe Brown. Back row (L to R) Rotarians Chris Ward, Dr Paul Creighton and Jim Barrett (Rotary Club President); Elsie Dixon (Owner) and Nicky Forbes (Manager).
The Rotary Club of Amble and Warkworth recently presented cheques to two worthy causes from the proceeds of its Christmas collection.
The first, for £300, was presented to Elpha Lodge in Boomhill, a home principally for people under 65 with chronic physical disabilities. Many of the residents suffer from neurological disorders, for example, the after effects of traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis or Huntington’s Disease.
The money, together with £500 donated by Rotary last year, has gone towards buying garden furniture, computers for communal areas and partly paying for an Activity Co-ordinator.
Elpha lodge was opened in 1987 by the owner, Elsie Dixon, and extended in 2003. It now accommodates 21 permanent residents and has one dedicated respite care room.
The second cheque, for £1,000, was presented to the Amble Youth Project, which caters for two groups of young people, Juniors aged 10 – 13 years and Seniors aged 13 – 19 years.
The centre, staffed by the Project Co-ordinator and Youth Workers, offers help, advice and activities for any youngsters who want to take part. The project has its own minibus and activities which have been arranged include a Jamie Oliver cookery course at Alnwick Garden, a trip to Lightwater Valley, ice skating and swimming. A nurse visits every Monday evening and is available to offer confidential advice on sexual health matters or any other concerns that the young people may have. The centre has an excellent relationship with the youngsters in the community and can help with cvs and advice on apprenticeships. The project has been going for 17 years and was originally set up with financial help from the Lottery and Children in Need. Current supporters include the Greggs Foundation.
Fred Calvert
