Produced by NEWSLETTER Wood & Trench Parish Council. Issue No.31, March 2013

Congratulations To

Trench Allotment & Leisure on obtaining a grant From Gardeners The Big Lottery Fund (Awards4all) for their new Society storage building

Trench Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Society Wish to thank all residents who supported their events last year and ask you to make a note in your diary for this year as follows Saturday, 20th April 2013 – St Georges Day Bbq Saturday, 22nd June 2013 – Mid Summer Bbq Saturday, 24th August 2013 – Produce Show Saturday, 2nd November 2013 – Firework Bbq

Printed and typeset by Madeley Print Shop Ltd All Events start at 4.30pm Secretary : Anne Watkins Tel: 228539

Wrekin & District Horticultural Society Invite you to their Spring Flower & Craft Show At Turreff Hall, Donnington on Sunday 14th April 2013 From 1pm to 5pm Presentation of Trophies at 4.30pm Daffodils, Auriculas, Primulas, Flowers, Pot Plants, Floral Art, Bonsai, and Handicrafts all on display Page 2: Parish Council News

Would you like to deliver our Newsletter? Registered Childminder We need someone to deliver our Vacancies newsletter. OFSTED Registered Childminder in Approximately 2000 copies are delivered Trench has vacancies. throughout & Over 20 years’ experience. Trench every three months. References available! For rates of pay and further details, Contact Tracy on 01952 528150 or please telephone Yvonne Taylor on 07817 979488 616363.

Parish Council News Parish Environmental Team – 2 for 1 initiative

In our December issue we requested your views on our proposal to enter into an agreement with & Wrekin Council for a new environmental team to work exclusively in the Parish providing over and above the baseline service. We were very pleased to receive very positive feedback and as a result we will be entering into a partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council for three years, commencing 1st April 2013.

The partnership agreement will provide employment for two staff: an environmental maintenance operative and an apprentice. This team will work exclusively in our parish to provide an enhanced service over and above that provided by Telford & Wrekin Council’s core contract. The team will help to keep the Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish even cleaner and greener.

The team will cover such things as enhanced litter picking, leaf fall clearance and improvements to landscaped areas such as additional planting and replacing worn out shrub beds.

As indicated in our December issue we have made savings to our budget and have used some of our resources to finance this initiative so that we been able to keep our precept at £106,000 for a further year.

Please let us know if there are any areas of concern that you think would benefit from the attention of the Environmental Team.

Body Blitz Classes ***New Course*** Every Monday 6.15 – 7.15pm FREE!!! at the Parish Council Centre JEWELLERY MAKING First Session FREE then £2.50/class Friday 19th April 2013 for 10 weeks Suit all fitness levels 9.30am – 11.30am Fully RSA Qualified Instructor at the Parish Council Centre Contact Cheryl Jauncey Contact Jaz Sandhu at TCAT [email protected] Tel: 07824 464048 www.cjshealthandfitness.co.uk Tel: 01952 371325 Page 3: Parish Council Information

Parish Council Meetings All our meetings are held at The Parish Council Centre on the second Tuesday of every month except August. Meetings are not normally held in August unless there are any urgent items for action. There is a 15 minute public session near the start of the meeting for residents to tell us about any problems or issues they have. Tuesday 9th April Full Council Meeting 7pm Tuesday 14th May Annual Parish Meeting 7pm Tuesday 14th May Annual General Meeting 8pm Parish Council Contacts: (616363 is the Council Office phone number) Les Brayne 616363 – Vice Chair Charles Smith 615266 – Chair Karen Hanmer 07904 421 173 Helen Smith 605645 Michael Hanmer 07976 025 367 John Thompson 606363 Derek Plant 620274 Anne Watkins 228539 Shirley Reynolds 380274 Keith Watkins 228539 Steve Reynolds 380274 Yvonne Taylor 616363 – Clerk Email us at [email protected] or visit our website on www.wwtpc.org.uk

Borough Councillors for Wrockwardine Wood (part) & Trench: Charles Smith 380223 Shirley Reynolds 380274 Borough Councillors for St. Georges which includes Wrockwardine Wood East Ward and most of Wrockwardine Wood Parish Ward: Richard Overton 380215 John Minor 380214

Useful Numbers: Abandoned Cars 384 384 Leisure Centre 382 810 Age Concern 587 749 Oakengates Theatre – The Place 382 382 Blue Badge 383 838 Police (new non-emergency number) 101 Chairs & Spares 619 197 Princess Royal Hospital 641 222 Childline 0800 1111 Refuse Collection & large items 384 384 Citizens Advice Bureau 0845 146 1554 Samaritans 256 161 Council Tax/Housing Benefit 383 838 Shropdoc (24 hours) 08444 06 8888 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Street Light Repairs 616 363 Dentist (emergency 9am – 5pm) 606 450 Telford & Wrekin Council 380 000 Domestic Violence 0800 783 1359 Wrekin Housing Trust 217 100 Drugs Helpline – FRANK 0800 776 600 Schools: Electricity (loss of supply) 0800 328 1111 St. Lukes RC Junior School 388 222 Gas (if you smell gas) 0800 111 999 The Sutherland School 387 800 Litter/Dog Fouling & Strays 384 384 Wrock Wood Arts College 388 300 Neighbourhood Watch 214 796 Wrock Wood Infants & Nursery 387 860 NHS Direct 0845 4647 Wrock Wood Juniors 387 880 Page 4: Classes and Clubs Classes at Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish Council Centre (classes are held weekly unless stated otherwise) MONDAY Health Trainers 1pm – 4pm Free Appointments. For support with Weight loss, getting Appointment more active, healthy eating, stopping smoking and drinking Only alcohol in sensible amounts. Contact Ruth or Katie today on 01952 382582 or email [email protected] Brownies (7 –11 years). Telephone Mrs Howard 615283 6pm – 7.15pm Body Blitz Classes 6.15pm – Hi Energy Fat Burning Class to suit all abilities. 7.15pm Telephone Cheryl Jauncey on 371325 (1st class FREE) TUESDAY Toddler Group 9.15 – 11.15am Parents, grandparents, child minders welcome Telephone Tracy: 528150 Art Class with Bob Spendlove 7pm – 9pm Telephone Bob: 412918 for details WEDS. Art Class with Stuart Mann 10am – 12 noon Contact the WEA: 614451 or just turn up. Slimming World Class (runs all year) 5pm & 7pm Contact Donna: 461049 or just turn up. THURSDAY Art Class with Pauline Jones 9.30 – 11.30am Phone the Parish Council on 616363 to book.

Youth Club for 6 – 11 years 5pm – 6.30pm

Local History Club (Monthly) 7pm – 9pm Second Thursday of every month. FRIDAY Afternoon Tea (Monthly) 1.30am – Telephone 616363 for future dates, next dates 15th March & 3.30pm 12th April

Other Clubs in the Parish

TUESDAY Trench Tuesday Club at Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Labour Club 1.30 – 3.30pm. Raffle, bingo, outings and lots more. New members welcome. Contact Carol Perry on 616274 for more information. WEDNESDAY The Friends & Neighbours Club at Wrockwardine Wood Trench Labour Club at 1.30pm. Bingo, raffle, competitions, flower arranging, monthly outing. No age restriction. Cost 50p per week. Contact Mrs. Jean Davies on 603556 Page 5: Holy Trinity Church

A Message from Rev. Matthew Stafford, Holy Trinity Church Dear Friends, ‘Lent is a special, privileged time when we pause for I cannot believe it is six months since I put hands to the thought and prayer, to reflect on our lives in the light keyboard and prepared an offering for the Parish Council of the gospel. The traditional 40 days are based on Magazine. Many thanks for all your Get Well Wishes the time Jesus spent in the desert, being tempted and since falling and breaking my hip last July. I have been being prepared for his ministry and for his suffering discharged from the Princes Royal and continue on the and death. This year, we are looking at our spiritual road to recovery. Thank God for thermals especially in fitness – not to see whether we are spiritual hares this cold weather! or tortoises, but to see how much in accord we are Easter is frightfully early this year. In fact Easter is almost within the purposes of our loving God. The book is the earliest it can be as Christmas formally officially not an instruction manual but a vehicle in which we came to end on February 2nd when we celebrated can use it to assist us in our reflections, discussions Candlemas. and prayers. The symbol of light that we celebrated at Candlemas Lent is a somewhat austere season, but it is always a along with the gift of baptism and Simeon’s encounter privileged season. Even though our thoughts are more with The Saviour guides us towards the Season of Lent on the Lord’s temptation, Passion and death, for us, all when within the Liturgy we acknowledge in these this is in the light of the resurrection. The Lamb once words: slain, lives for ever! So let’s apply ourselves to the task Here we turn from Christ’s birth to his passion. of reflecting, personally and with each other’s help, Help us, for whom Lent is near, asking for God’s help and grace.’ to enter deeply into the Easter mystery. The Sessions include: I’ve always been a great lover of Lent as it is a Christian We are what we eat: a healthy spiritual diet Season that has not been secularly hijacked. Lent from Exercising the heart: loving and living a spiritual perspective gives us an opportunity to,‘take Losing the baggage: letting go of what’s weighing us to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of down forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in Onwards and upwards: living prayerfully faith and devotion to our Lord.’ (CW) Giving and not counting the cost: the grateful life As a Benefice this year we are using the Lent Course A helping hand: encouraging each other ‘Fit for Purpose.’ As usual there are day and evening Fit for a king: being a people of praise Groups with the Sermon Slot given over to the themes If anyone wishes to attend a group please contact the addressed in the book. Revd Matthew Stafford on 01952 613865 or Jane Peate The author of the book Ed Hone writes: on 01952 246535. My prayerful good wishes, Matthew Stafford (Rector) HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2013 PALM SUNDAY GOOD FRIDAY 9.30am Liturgy of Palms with Holy Eucharist at 10am-12pm Good Friday Children’s Workshop at Oakengates Wrock. Wood 2pm Walk of Witness with Donkey from 2pm The Last Hour at the Lady of the Rosary with St Queenswood School, Ketley Bank Luke, Trench MONDAY 6pm The Cross of Christ at Oakengates 7.30pm Compline and Meditation at Oakengates EASTER DAY TUESDAY 8am BCP Holy Communion at W Wood 7.30pm Compline and Meditation at Wrock. Wood 9.30am Family Mass for Easter Day at Oakengates 11.00am Parish Communion for Easter Day at WEDNESDAY Wrock. Wood 7.30pm Celtic Evening Liturgy at Wrock. Wood 5.30pm Easter Evening Praise at Wrock. Wood MAUNDY THURSDAY 7.30pm Holy Eucharist, Stripping of the Altar and Watch at Oakengates Page 6: Fostering

Rona Harris We would like to say a big THANK YOU to Rona Harris who has regularly written an article for our newsletter for the past three years. We hope you have enjoyed reading about Rona’s eventful and very interesting life as much as we have. We hope to hear more from Rona in the future, but for now she is concentrating on other aspects of her very busy life. If you would like to read more about Rona, she has three books available entitled Stories of My Life in Wellington, Past, Present & Prediction and Wartime Childhood. The books are priced at £4.50 each and are packed full of Rona’s wonderful stories and photographs. Telephone Rona on 677857 to order a book or contact us on 616363 and we will pass on your request.

The Forgotten Children? Private Fostering

Privately Fostered children and young people are those up to the age of 16 (18 if disabled) who are not looked after by their parents or a ‘close relative’ i.e. grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister or brother.

Privately fostered children are cared for by people who do not hold parental responsibility or are not officially approved foster carers.

Private fostering arrangements start when the child has been with the carer for more than 27 consecutive days.

Not closely related…if you are looking after a child and are

• A divorced step-parent

• Great-aunt/ uncle

• Cousin

• Friend

• Neighbour

you are privately fostering – if you need to find out more please call the Telford & Wrekin Council Fostering Team on 01952 385888. Could you foster a Telford Child?

Foster children need to be loved, understood, valued and accepted for what and who they are and we need foster carers who can do this - is that you?

There is a national shortage of foster carers. In we are urging people to come forward so that we can keep our children in local foster care - this helps with their school, for contact with family and friends and so that they can keep attending their leisure and fun activities.

If you think you could foster a Telford child and want more information please call 01952 385888 or go to www.telford.gov.uk/fostering Page 7: Chairs & Spares

TELFORD COLLEGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAIRS AND SPARES.

Telford College of Arts and Technology is currently working in partnership with Chairs and Spares in Donnington.

The college has set up a number of ‘Furniture Restoration and Employability’ courses at the warehouse in Unit 3, St Georges Road, Donnington.

Ron Twyford from Chairs and Spares said “with the help of TCAT and the funding from the European Social Fund and Fair Share Community Foundation for and Telford, we are able to host a number of free six week courses for people who are currently unemployed.

Learners are able to choose a piece of furniture from our warehouse, the tutor Stephen Pugh, is able to show them how to restore it and they are welcome to keep the item An example of the high standard of work at the end of the course. The learners do not need to bring accomplished. anything with them as all tools, equipment and materials are provided”.

Jane Whitfield from Newport has just completed the 6 week course. Jane has thoroughly enjoyed the course and hopes to go on to an intermediate furniture restoration course at Donnington Baptist Church.

Also as a result of this course she is hoping to volunteer at Chairs and Spares and restore donated pieces of furniture to re-sell for the charity. TCAT have also approached her to become a ‘learning champion’ as she is a fantastic example of someone who has completed a community-based course and as a result can really help to inspire other people who may not have the confidence to enrol due to a variety of circumstances.

Some learners have gone on to other courses such as First Aid, Computing, Confidence Building, English and Maths, Counselling, Food Hygiene, Drawing and Painting courses – these are all offered locally by TCAT and designed to assist people back into employment.

The next Furniture Restoration and Employability course starts on Friday 15th March, 9.30am-3pm. For further information about this course or other community education courses please contact Jaz Sandhu on 07824464048 If you have any furniture to donate please contact Chairs and Spares on 01952 619197.

Jane Whitfield is pictured with tutor Stephen Pugh, standing next to her “restored” piano stool. The next Community Engagement Meeting will be held on Tuesday 25th June 2013 at The Parish Council Centre, Church Road, Wrockwardine Wood at 7.15pm, preceded by a Surgery at 6.45pm At the last meeting held on 26th February, residents expressed concerns about dog fouling in the Broadway Avenue to Wombridge Road area and vehicles parking on Trench Road near to Meadow Close. The local Community Support Officers will be paying particular attention to these areas in the next few weeks. How to contact your Local Police Team: Based at: Donnington Police Station, Wellington Road, Telford TF2 8AE Email: [email protected] Message Line: 01952 216 558 (non emergency) Visit us at: www.westmercia.police.uk Non emergency: 101, the new number to call when you want to contact your local police.

Have Your Say – Wrockwardine Wood & Trench PACT

The Local PACT Panel is gathering information about local issues in this neighbourhood so that we can work with you to take action to tackle them. Please help us by writing down what you feel to be the biggest local issue / concern on this form and returning it to us. How to return: 1. Complete form, without giving any personal details, and place it into a sealed envelope, addressing it to - LPT Wrockwardine Wood & Trench, Donnington Police Station, Wellington Road, Telford TF2 8AE. 2. Without an envelope - hand deliver to Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish Council Centre (during school hours). WHAT is your issue? (Please be as specific as you can)

WHERE is this happening? (E.g. street name / specific location)

WHEN is this happening? (Please provide times and days)

THANK YOU

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the various contributors are not necessarily those of Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish Council. The inclusion of an article in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, policies or methods. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication; however, no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission.