ASCOT FREEGLE - THE SUCCESSOR TO FREECYCLE: FREE Giving, Locally, Easily

Ascot Freegle is part of a new online re-use network called Freegle formed in the UK as a friendly alternative to Freecycle.

In just six days since Freegle was formed, 143 local groups like ours – 28% of former Freecycle groups and representing over 664,000 members (32% cent of the total UK Freecycle membership) – have moved to the new co-operative umbrella organisation, and many more groups are expected to follow us.

Freegle which means Free Giving, Locally, Easily, offers greater freedom for us to organise the way we work to suit local needs, without the rigid management hierarchy imposed by The Freecycle Network.

The UK has been a big player in Freecycle’s global network accounting for approximately one quarter of all re-used household items saved from landfill, and with more members per head of population than any other country.

There are already millions of people in the UK who offer unwanted household items for reuse by others, rather than dumping them. The new site Freegle is open to everyone who wants to do their bit for the planet - just visit www.iloveFreegle.org.

Paul Thompson, local volunteer for Ascot Freegle said: "The creation of Freegle was inevitable when hard working Freecycle volunteers who merely asked for greater autonomy in the UK were summarily dismissed and their groups closed. This left us with no other choice but to set up an new recycling/reuse organisation for our members in the UK. In the long run it has been the best possible outcome. Find us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ascot-freegle  '.

Other local Freecycle groups that have also joined Freegle include Bracknell, Reading, Windsor & Maidenhead, and Woodley. These groups alone represent 41,216 current members. All such groups can be found on the Freegle website, www.iloveFreegle.org

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The Ascot Volunteer Bureau, which matches volunteer drivers with people who need lifts to appointments, can be contacted on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays, 10 am - 12noon. Local trips cost £4, longer trips have a 45p per mile mileage rate. Visit www.ascotvolunteerbureau.org.uk  Call 01344 625520.

ASPEN, the Ascot Peace Education Network, began meeting prior to this country’s last conflict, euphemistically termed by the UK media Gulf War 2. It has been constituted as an independent voluntary organisation. It aims to build upon the tremendous concern felt by everyone about the war in Iraq. People worldwide, particularly the young, have woken up with a renewed intention to engage In peace building, by resolving conflict, and the group aims to actively promote peace and understanding through educational visits to schools, informed debates, entertaining neighbours with hospitality teas or lunches so improving relationships where we live.  The group meets formally every quarter and plans to invite experienced peace activists to inspire us. Strictly speaking it is not a Christian only group although many of its members worship at All Saints Church. It is not a political organisation only humanitarian. If you wish to join you will be most welcome. Contact Mrs. A Yarwood 01344- 621167.

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The Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Society has much to offer sufferers from the disease. For more information visit www.bmstc.org or call 0118 901 6000

The Bracknell Forest Domestic Support Service, charges £9 per hour and can be contacted on 01344 383516 or 07518 749889 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/220310.html

 The South Ascot Children's Centre is based at South Ascot Village School in All Souls Road, South Ascot, offering Job Centre Plus, Baby Clinics, Speech and Language drop in, Parenting classes. Call Laura Temperley on 01344 622118 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

The Citizens Adcice Bureau no longer runs the monthly Saturday mornings sessions at North Ascot. Please use Bracknell Citizens Advice Bureau 40 42 The Broadway, Bracknell,
RG12 1AG. Advice line number 0844 4994107  OR Tuesday mornings, 10am - 12 noon at
Ascot Day Centre
Bagshot Road
Ascot SLD9PD

For information about the local Domestic Abuse Forum CLICK HERE

First Aid courses run at the Red Cross Centre, King's Ride, Ascot, usually seven weeks long. For details of the next course, call 01344 627377

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The Health Visitors' Well Baby Clinic has moved from Green Meadows and is now  at the pavilion in the Jubilee Recreation Ground, off Goaters Road, off Fernbank Road, North Ascot, on Wednesdays from 10 am - 12 noon.

  Heart and Soul meets at the Village Hall, Church Road, off Station Road, Sunningdale SL5 0NJ one Thursday a month at 7.30 for 8.00pm. A place to meet with like-minded people to listen to a diverse array of speakers and learn about new and inspirational subjects that help us grow and develop. The evening costs £6.00 and this includes refreshments. New members welcome. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01276 474915

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  Kumon Maths and English classes run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.30pm - 5.00pm at the CMI , Church Road, Sunningdale. For more information call Linda on 01344 621634

The Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Link Group offers support for people with self destructive behaviour, anxiety, depression,  impulsiveness and relationships. Contact the NHS Berkshire Complex Needs Service. Call the 0790 989 3123. 

For information about home services such as  gardening and landscape, general maintenance,  electrics, plumbing and heating, visit www.anchorathome.co.uk

Colostomates Ileostomates Urostomates invite anyone living with a stoma to go along for a cuppa and a chat, at the Martins Heron and Warren Community Centre (next to Tesco, on Mondays, 2-4pm. For more information call Jackie on 01344 426652. 

There is a recognised shortage of 10,000 Foster Carers in the UK. PACT, founded in 1911, is also known as the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work inc. We are a registered charity working to improve life chances for children. The focus of our work is within Berkshire, including the Ascot area, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and aims to build and strengthen families.

We are an approved Adoption and Fostering Agency. We have a history of finding safe, loving families for children in care. Here are a few facts about Fostering:
1.    Did you know you don’t have to be married to become a Foster Carer?
2.    You don’t have to have children already although you do need to have experience of caring for children.
3.    Did you know you get paid a Fostering Allowance of £335.70 a week to be a Foster Carer which is tax free and won’t affect any other benefits?
4.    Most of the children who need fostering are known as ‘hard to place’ children, they will usually be 8+ years of age.

Fostering is a hard but very rewarding job. If you think you might have what it takes to become a Permanent Foster Carer or you want to find out more then contact PACT now on 0800 731 1845 e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Everyone is a bit afraid of speaking in groups or in public, some just hide it better than others! Do you think it would be a good thing if you were able to speak more confidently or improve your skills?
There’s a safe place you can achieve this and learn to become a better speaker, expressing yourself more freely and feeling in control rather than the other way round.

Windsor Speakers is a ‘non-profit’ club that meets two evenings a month where members get to practice and improve their public speaking in an organised, safe and supportive environment. It’s part of the Toastmasters International organisation that has over one million members worldwide.

We have all walks of life from housewives to business people to tradesmen to students. Ranging from accomplished speakers to absolute beginners.

We meet on the 1st and 3rd Monday every month at Gardeners Hall, 213 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3DR. If this is something you might be interested in then pop along one evening to take a look and see what it’s all about. You’d be welcomed.

To find out more go to www.winspeak.co.uk

Take time out of the rat race and enjoy the Quiet garden Half Day Retreats, at Constables, Windsor Road, Ascot SL5 7LF, 10.30 am -1.30pm, on the last Friday of each month.  The charge is just £2-3 for The Quiet Garden Trust. This monthly event started in 1996 and offers informal hospitality and an opportunity to reflect on beauty, God's love, wisdom literature and encouragement, in the surroundings of the big, old house. Take your own snack lunch. Call 01344 621167 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Royal Borough's Family Information Service  provides advice on child care choices, schools, learning, leisure, working with young people and offers support services, all free of charge. Their dedicated line is on 01628 507587.

SAFFA Forces Help is a national welfare charity helping serving and ex-Service men, women and their families, including widows and widowers in need. Those eligible are people and their families who have served a minimum of one paid day in any of the Armed Forces and their Reserves, including those who have done National Service. The Association can provide practical, financial and emotional support to both serving and ex service people, who may find themselves in crisis.   Further information on the assistance which SSAFA Forces Help can provide, can be obtained at www.ssafa.org or by contacting Central Office on 020 7403 8783.  For people in the Ascot areas the contact number is  01753 862307.

Sufferng from stress? Prepare for the forthcoming Advent season www.careforthefamily.org.uk/survivestress