Train not in Vain
I went tonight to the second annual Train awards. Train is a fantastic organisation started by the local churches in Didcot. It’s overseen by the local Baptist Minister, Keith Nichols, and employs a youth worker, Paul Gander, to engage with young people in Didcot. They take them on residential courses, organising DJ’ing, football and skateboarding competitions, and then award the youngster certificates to recognise their achievements. It’s a great organisation and I was proud to be asked along to say a few words and hand out the certificates. I even got a plug for the blog from the mistress of ceremonies, Claire Wren, who noticed that I had whinged that nobody read it. Whingeing is good though, I have never received so many comments.
canvas said on November 9th, 2007 at 10:54 am:
You know what? I love whingeing too.
If you don’t ask - you don’t get!
:)
Sue said on November 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pm:
I hope you’re feeling the love now Ed!!
This Train organisation sounds great, I wonder if the churches in Wantage and Grove could be encouraged to set up something similar. There’s been a lot in the local press recently about anti-social behaviour, especially where teenagers gather in childrens’ playgrounds causing misery for those living nearby. There is one youth club in Wantage, which is hugely successful, but unable to cope with the amount of teenagers living in the area. Maybe a scheme like Train could encourage a few of those bored kids off the streets and doing something enjoyable and worthwhile with their spare time.
Sue said on November 9th, 2007 at 1:07 pm:
p.s. your clock is still an hour fast!
Tizzy said on November 9th, 2007 at 1:28 pm:
Kids haven’t changed that much over 40-50 years; it was a regular job to clean up the statue after kids threw paint over the head of Alfred several times a year. Does that still happen?
Monkeyclemmyone said on November 11th, 2007 at 5:27 pm:
Thanks for highlighting the work of TRAIN! And thanks for coming to hand out the awards.