What a really interesting afternoon I had with the gang up at OJ's at Hillside! In the extract from a charity website i found the rather dry words set out below

OJ'S SENSORY INTERACTION TRUST

Aims & Vision
TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF AND PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SENSORY INTERACTION CENTRES THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE BY WHATEVER CHARITABLE MEANS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT

What of course this doesnt tell you is what the organisation is really about. Founded by one of those driven people that you meet occasionally the charity is aimed at not only engagement with the autistic child/children but just as importantly, to make their siblings feel wanted, loved, attended to and normal too.

On top of these obvious benefits i also got a strong sense of the value that the parents get from being with other parents of autistic children. Lisa donaghue, as founder, felt moved to provide support for families with autistic children because there was no such service in existence in the patch. Having spent time talking to the beneficiaries,( mainly the parents!) , it has made me even more determined to support this brilliant charity, not only with money but help in kind. Being in my position you get to know your way around a bit and by raising awareness of the sevice being provided by OJ's the organisation should thrive. Lisa needs a big lump of money in a hurry to be able to provide a fortnights respite service during the summer holidays - a time that I learned for a parent of an autistic childen is a real challenge and not the fun it should be! Lisa's contact details are on the press extracts below - if you can help do get in touch.

Well done to RVBC staff for helping out today, to the County for allowing the use of the school during half term and to all the helpers and anyone else involved - humbling efforts indeed.

There will be some press stuff about my visit and once again i didnt take my camera otherwise there would be a pic or two on here to liven it up!! In the meantime follow the link here to previous press coverage from an activities sesh at Easter.

http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/longridge-news/Easter-fun-for-children-with.5140173.jp

http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/features/Autistic-children-enjoy-holiday-activities.5193304.jp


No official functions this week end so i might get a bit of work done! Enjoy the sun!!

28th May

Well last night was my second meeting officially in charge. Seemed to go ok but maybe there was too much laughter? That said if you can't have fun whilst being a councillor there isn't much point is there?

Didn't watch the footy but retired to the Dog Inn for beer and curry with a fellow councillor. We managed to put the world to rights and let's just say it was very dark by the time I got home!

The Borough is getting a bit of a kicking from Longridge at the moment and I hope that the good work that we have put in to improve our relationship with the "other end of the valley" won't be prejudiced by this. We seem to have a new confidence, and rightly so, here and maybe we have to guard against going overboard. That said I think we are right to be unhappy about the difficulties users have in accessing information on the RVBC website and that basically forms the core of our moan.

Some really good news to talk about soon but it was in Part 2 items last night which means the press and the public were barred form the discussion. I wouldn't be much of a Chairman if I blurted it out here would I? You will just have to watch the Longridge News for an announcement !!

Tomorrow I go to see the work of a new charity currently based at Hillside School called OJs'. really looking forward to meeting the team which works with autistic children. It's a bling outing but I'm worried that the chain will get damaged by the inquisitive youngsters....lets hope the weather does as it's forecast and we can be outside!

Putting my big tent up at Alston Hall tomorrow in readiness for a leaving do for Dot Little who has been there since God were a lad. The event is on Sunday and I hope she (and Fred) have a great day. If you dont know about Alston Hall follow this link...www.alstonhall.com

So lets see what happens shall we?
I started this to see if it will be a good way to tell everyone about what i'm upto this year as Maoyr of Longridge - our vibrant community 7 miles north east of Preston In Lancs.

this isn't a vanity thing - it's more to be able to share news of what's in the calendar, fundraisers and post photos and maybe comment on things I've been to. For example, last Friday I attended the launch of the Little Green Bus - a social enterprise based in Clitheroe but aimed at users in the whole of the Ribble Valley. Whilst sitting there in the mayoral bling next to Mary Robinson Mayor of Clitheroe I learned that once a week the Little Green Bus takes a full compliment of people to Fulwood Asda. And here's the Longridge Partnership and me who have been banging on about a Community transport scheme for Longridge since the second Action Plan and we didnt know about it!

So what's coming up? July 14th 1900hrs (7 o'clock beer time ) - lads Pampered Chef party for the mayoral charity OJs'. There seem to have been a few of these for the girls locally but I thought we could have one aimed at the lads and focus on BBQ cooking - because let's face it fellas, most of us are expert BBQ chefs but we have to use the cooking kit our gorgeous wives use, and believe me some of the Pampered Chefs kit is boys toys heaven! Watch out for confirmation of venue - 50 places only - free entry .....just come with your cheque books and remember that the more you spend the more the charity benefits and the more fancy cheffing clobber you get too!!