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Mayoral Charities

Councillor Mark Forsyth
CHAIR and Mayor of Bradley Stoke Town Council

I feel very privileged that I have been elected as Chair of the Town Council, following on from my year as Chair of Finance & Leisure and Vice Chair. I will continue to work hard on behalf of all the residents in the town. My fellow Town Councillors, who are all unpaid volunteers, work very hard for the greater good of Bradley Stoke and I would like to thank them all publicly for their time and efforts, both in the public eye and behind the scenes. I should also like to publicly acknowledge the Council staff's contribution to the wellbeing of the town.

We have an exciting year ahead of us. I would very much like to draw everyone's attention to various initiatives that have been set up already this year or changes that will be happening to us - in additional to the normal work taking place throughout the year:

the welcome arrival of the Mobile Cleansing Operative - David Dace. His work is already making a considerable difference to our streets and green spaces.
emerging weekend volunteer litter initiative to support David's Work.
changes to the way youth work is provided within the town
ongoing planning and development of community events
evaluation of the best and most cost effective way of providing a Town Council Office for the future
development of and entering into consultation with residents on the Town Council's Forward Plan 2009-2014
annual firework display
development of the Jubilee Green into an open space for residents to enjoy and the opening of the Beacon Play Scheme on the Green

and

sadly planning for the forthcoming retirement of the Town Clerk - David Chandler - in January 2010, and successfully recruiting a replacement.

The 7th Community Festival held in June was the happiest and most successful one to date and we are looking forward to planning 2010's Festival, which will be held on from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 June 2010.

My chosen charities are BLESMA and the Bristol Dyslexia Centre, and these will be featuring throughout the year with events and collections being held at various places, including the Willow Brook Centre.

Bristol Dyslexia Centre

Bristol Dyslexia Centre is an independent teaching and assessment centre for all ages. It uses innovative and fun methods of teaching to inspire a love of learning and create self-confidence. The Centre is well established in Bristol as a centre of excellence and takes students from over 100 different schools, colleges and universities in Bristol and surrounding areas. It has an excellent reputation for success, providing a relaxed learning environment for up to 300 students. BDC's body of specialist teachers and professionals form a huge resource bank of knowledge and experience. Pat and Mike Jones, supported by their committed team of specially trained and dedicated teachers, run the Centre and School. Belgrave School (www.belgrave-school.org) was formed in 1993. It is a small special school (6 - 12 years), which prides itself on developing happy, and successful students. It follows a full curriculum, providing individual learning programmes to develop literacy and numeracy skills, fostering a healthy self-esteem, and nurturing creative and social growth.

PAT JONES
"My own children are dyslexic, and they taught me how to make learning fun and rewarding. During the past 30 years I have taught thousands of dyslexic students in state and independent schools, and have lectured to schools, hospitals and universities. In 1987 I set up the Bristol Dyslexia Centre and it has rapidly expanded from 10 pupils to 300. I have also devised my own system for teaching dyslexics which has proved to be highly successful. This complete learning programme is now available on CD, so anyone, anywhere in the world, can experience the advantage of learning with our methods.”

MIKE JONES
“I hated school. I was the dunce of the class who couldn't spell his own name. At 7 years old I found out I was dyslexic. It took me many years not to feel ashamed of this and not to feel that it was some kind of excuse.
When I was taught in a style which suited the way I learnt, I went from bottom to the top of the class.
I then went to Art College, then to take a Law Degree, and then went onto retrain to teach dyslexic students. Now I am passionate about helping other dyslexics succeed, in a way that is fun, innovative and not like school.”

Bristol Dyslexia Centre
10 Upper Belgrave Road,
Clifton,
Bristol,
BS8 2XH

Tel: 0117 9739405

Councillor Ben Walker running in aid of BLESMA
Cllr Ben Walker at
the June 10K Run

BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Men's Association)

BLESMA is the national charity for limbless serving and ex service men and women and their dependants and widows. It is the charity that directly supports all our service men and women who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of our country and we are with them all whenever we are needed for the rest of their lives.

Our work starts with rehabilitation - proving that there is life after amputation. Our work is about amputee helping amputee - the fellowship of shared experience. Our work is about life long welfare support, about campaigning for what they deserve and about being there when old injuries come back to haunt.

Our youngest Member is 19 and our oldest is 99 - Truly we are BLESMA for Life. The Association - Member supporting Member

BLESMA needs to raise nearly Two Million Pounds a year to adequately meet all its objectives. These are:

To provide challenging and effective rehabilitation for those who have recently suffered amputation or loss of use of limb.
To provide permanent residential care and respite convalescence at our BLESMA homes in Blackpool and Crieff in Scotland.
To make grants to ease the effects of disability and hardship.
To provide a comprehensive and effective welfare service for all Members and Widows to include:

provision of comprehensive advice on war pensions, compensation and care and disability allowances
making representation to government departments and local government officers on behalf of Members and Widows.
represents Members and Widows at War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Tribunals.
provision of a counselling service pre and post amputation.
to ensure prosthetic provision meets the requirements of our Members.
to represent the collective interest of all Members and Widows to national and local government.

BLESMA (Registered Charity Number 1084189)
185-187 High Road,
Chadwell Heath,
Romford,
Essex RM6 6NA

Tel: 0208 590 1124 | Email: headquarters@blesma.org | Website: www.blesma.org