See life as it is, but focus on the good bits

Thought for the Week

“I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope

For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,

For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith

But the faith and the hope and the love are all in the waiting.

Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:

So the darkness shall be the light and the stillness the dancing.”

From ‘The Four Quartets – East Coker’ by T S Eliot

Local collection point to support flood victims - Barrow

Local Collection point for Cumbria Flood Victims on Barrow Market

There is now a stall on Barrow Market (stall number 29) to collect for

Cumbria Flood Victims.

Items needed:-

·         Towels

·         Blankets

·         Duvet, pillows and other bedding

·         Non perishable food e.g. tinned soup, beans, packaged foods

·         Toiletries (male and female) including female sanitary products

·         Pet food and pet bedding

·         Miniature hand sanitizers

·         Wellington boots/waders

·         Waterproof clothing

·         Protective clothing (inc work gloves)

·         New pants and socks

·         Crockery and cutlery

·         Baby/young child items (formula milk, baby food jars)

·         First aid kits

·         Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and shoes

·         Bottled water

·         Torches

The contact email address is luckylady151515@gmail.com

Barrow Market is now open every day, except Sunday 13 December up to and including Thursday24 December.

Cumbria Community Foundation Appeal

An appeal has been launched to raise funds to support the individuals and communities throughout Cumbria devastated by the flooding and storms.

Find out about ways to donate to the appeal here http://www.cumbriafoundation.org/

More to life when you stop and notice

Women’s Community Matters job vacancy

Women’s Community Matters are looking for a new temporary Project Worker to set up and begin to deliver the New Lives project. 

The successful applicant will work within the Women’s Community Matters team and closely with Barrow Borough Council Housing Department. 

New Lives is a project to support women experiencing domestic violence and will provide temporary emergency accommodation to women as well as providing emotional and practical support. 

The post is open to women only, for an informal chat please ring 01229 311102.

To apply for this post please send your up to date CV along with a covering letter stating why you would like to work for Women’s Community Matters to:

Rebecca Rawlings, Centre Manager
Women’s Community Matters
Suite1, 22a Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA14 1HH
01229 311102.

You may also send your application by e-mail to: rebecca@womenscommunitymatters.org 

Please note: the closing date for receipt of all applications is Wednesday 30th December 2015 at 5pm.

Interviews will take place on 5th January 2016.

Feel good, do good

Thought for the Week

“Once poverty is gone, we'll need to build museums to display its horrors to future generations. They'll wonder why poverty continued so long in human society - how a few people could live in luxury while billions dwelt in misery, deprivation and despair.” Muhammad Yunus, Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism

Xmas at Park Lesiure Centre, Barrow

Xmas for Kids at Park Leisure Centre, Barrow

Cumbria Police Christmas crackdown on drink and drug driving

Cumbria Police along with the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership are seeking the public’s assistance in a bid to prevent a tragic Christmas.

Every year in December a national campaign is run to encourage people not to drink and drive. However, every year people are still being detected over the limit with either alcohol or drugs in their system whilst driving.

In December 2014, 2907 breath tests were administered, which resulted in 64 people either failing or refusing a test. This was a decrease on the previous year where 97 people either failed or refused a breathalyser test.

Of the 64 tests in 2014 which were either failed or refused, 15 followed a road traffic collision. In 2013, 17 people failed or refused a test following a road traffic collision.

Cumbria Police have worked with a local family to talk about their experience involving a drink driver. In October 2013 a fatal one vehicle road traffic collision occurred on the B5288, between Greystoke and Motherby, near Penrith. A BMW, left the road and collided with a hedgerow and a dry stone wall. The driver and two other passengers survived the collision, but tragically 22 year old Dominic Matthew Loftus tragically died at the scene. The driver of the car was a drink driver who was over the prescribed legal limit.

The parents of Dominic, Ian and Susan Loftus have spoken to Cumbria Police about the impact this incident has had on their family’s life. They have also spoken about the impact on their friends and local community following this tragic event. In the video there is also a message for anyone thinking of having a drink and getting behind the wheel this Christmas.

Please see the below an extended and a short video of Ian and Susan Loftus describing their experience:

https://youtu.be/VejNb1NX4TY

https://youtu.be/Vcb78TMlyqI

Chief Inspector Terry Bathgate from the Mobile Support Unit, said,

“We echo the words of Ian and Susan Loftus that although this is a Christmas drink drive campaign we want the public to be aware of the consequences 365 days a year. We want to directly appeal to anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs to watch this video and think twice about their actions.”

“Prevention is definitely best when it comes to reducing the risk to people’s lives. We continue to appeal to members of the public to contact the police when they suspect a person driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Such calls will be treated as an emergency as lives could be at stake and we hope that members of the public will be responsible with this assistance.”

As well as intelligence-led checks patrols will be carrying out regular spot checks on the county’s roads.

Chief Inspector Bathgate added

“Another area of concern that we would like to highlight is the number of people who drive the morning after a night where they have been drinking. What many can underestimate is the effect that this has the following morning and some will get in a car thinking they will be fit to drive when they are in fact, still over the alcohol limit.

“Our message is clear, don’t drive under the influence of drink or drugs. It is easy to make alternative arrangements to get home. Don’t ruin your own or other people’s Christmas by making a decision to drive whilst under the influence, it’s not worth it.”

Below are links to Ian Loftus blog, and a video of their son Reuben singing a song he wrote about his older brother at his funeral.

http://ianploftus.com/living-in-shadow/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbcWKDXJNSg