Celebration is the icing on the cake (From Evesham Journal)

Celebration is the icing on the cake

10:51am Thursday 26th November 2009

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AN information centre which provides Broadway people with advice and counselling has celebrated a decade of service.

Volunteers, founder members and charity representatives enjoyed afternoon tea at Russell’s Restaurant in celebration of Signpost’s 10th birthday.

It was formed in a bid to bring the services offered by big charities such as Age Concern and Disabled Information Access and Living to people who would otherwise have to travel to Worcester and Cheltenham.

After starting with a client base of just four a month, the centre’s popularity has grown to such an extent that last year its team of 15 volunteers helped 900 people with everything from benefits to bereavement.

Penny Ingles, chairman and founder member, said she was thrilled Signpost had reached such a milestone. “It took two years to build up a regular clientele. People don’t come to start with because they’ve got to trust that you’re going to be there and keep material confidential,” she said. “It’s been a battle to get agencies to come because even the national ones have got boundaries but we’ve got them and I’m thrilled to bits.”

The centre has also played a role in benefiting the general wellbeing of villagers by introducing several exercise groups, some of which have been taken over by Rooftop Housing Group.

And it continues to add to its services, with the recent launch of a monthly visit from a Citizen’s Advice Bureau adviser and a Memory Cafe for dementia sufferers and their carers.

There are also plans in the pipeline to offer more for younger people in Broadway.

For more information on Signpost, call 01386 859029.

4 From left: Clair Chittenden, development worker for Wychavon Community Action Partnership, Gill Hyatt, informant and services manager for Age Concern, Penny Ingles, chairman of Signpost, Michael Townson, counsellor for Relate, Natasha Sampson, branch manager for Cheltenham & East Gloucestershire Alzheimer’s Society, celebrate Signpost’s 10th birthday. 48nov09066b. Picture by LINDA BUTLER.

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