Positives..

My last blog had observations that were negative biased – so rising to the challenge I looked for some good news or positive stories.

As the majority of the items were spotted in the local press I’m restricted by copyright in providing too much detail, so I’ll give a synopsis for each item.

Woodmancote Church spent the money raised at a plant sale and quiz evening and together with the harvest food gifts, donated over £400 worth of food and personal hygiene items to the County Community Project (CCP).

James Hopkins Trust in Gloucester benefits from volunteer help to garden, decorate & clean.

Winston’s Wish charity celebrated it’s 20^th birthday (WW supports young people + families during bereavement).

A fun fair to be held in December in Cheltenham will raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation (grants wishes to young people 3-17 with life threatening conditions).

A group in Cheltenham raises £2000 for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund started its Make a Difference campaign.

A Christmas fair raised more than £600 for the James Hopkins Trust.

Work starts on a £4.5m school hall for Cheltenham’s Dean Close Prep School.

9 jobs created in Cheltenham with the return of ‘The Works’ book shop.

Cheltenham’s Pate’s Grammar School named as best state secondary school in the country.

Staff at a local school have been honoured for their First Aid skills at the St John Ambulance First Aid Awards in London.

Local woman is given signed certificate by Prince Charles for 20 years volunteering at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Cheltenham Borough Council attempting to provide more allotments (~300 within the next 3 years).

Youngsters in Cheltenham held a ball and raised nearly £3000 for the NSPCC.

The local Labour club raises funds to provide a motorised wheelchair for a young disabled woman.

A young man is able to leave his house for the first time in 3 years after funds are raised to provide a specialised wheelchair.

So what I take from this exercise is that if you look really closely within the communities you live in, there is an immense amount of good works being accomplished. I suspect what I’ve uncovered is but just a small portion of the huge volume of volunteer work and fund raising that goes in the background that never really comes to light, or is celebrated.

We all really should focus more on the positives in life than the negatives.

I think we should all be encouraged to appreciate and recognise the efforts of anyone involved as they seek to help others in what ever way they can.