It can’t be bad – my first week working at Woodford ended with a relaxing and enjoyable Sunday afternoon at Casa Naranjo, in Shrewsbury’s Barracks Passage, eating a seemingly endless feast of tapas dishes.  Just when we all thought we couldn’t eat any more out came a plate of the most tender and  tastiest chicken .... Fortunately the final dish of chocolate sponge pudding was very light!

The event had been arranged, hosted and provided by the owners of Casa Naranjo, Emma and Alfonso.  Twenty Woodford supporters, volunteers and staff enjoyed the delicious food and a warm welcome from the restaurant’s friendly staff.  Together we raised over £500.00 towards improving the quality of life for deaf children and young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

I’m still learning about the work of Woodford – but have been amazed to discover how much can be achieved with a sum of money like this.  For example – it is enough to provide the educational resources for 100 deaf children to go to school in Malawi.

I am looking forward to meeting more of Woodford’s supporters over the coming months, and being part of such a valuable organisation. Thanks again to those who supported the event, and to Emma, Alfonso and the staff of Casa Naranjo for making it so enjoyable.

For more information about Casa Naranjo you can visit their website here - http://www.casanaranjo.co.uk

Alex

Twenty Level 1 and 2 Business Administration students including one in a wheel chair and five on bikes, their lecturers Val Jones and Louise Tucker, and Louise’s dog Boo, have just completed a 12 mile sponsored walk, cycle, push, ride and even swim around Lake Vyrnwy. 

The fundraising event was organised to address the Teamwork unit of their courses and, as with all good teams, there was a vast amount of discussion involved regarding what they should do and who they should do it for. 

The team decided to use the funds they would raise to help the Woodford Foundation. This is a Shrewsbury-based charity that supports deaf children in other countries. Harry Salter, Fundraising Officer, from the Woodford Foundation came in, to give a talk to the students about the work of the charity and to collect the £422 raised by the students. 

Harry commented “Woodford increases access and opportunity to deaf children and young people to go to school in sub-Saharan Africa. We work in countries where two thirds of children and young people with hearing impairments don’t go to school. It is wonderful that these young people from here in Shropshire have taken it upon themselves to help others to help themselves; so that they can go to school, learn skills and support themselves for the rest of their lives. We would like to say a huge thank you to the students of Walford and North Shropshire College and we look forward to keeping them updated on how their fundraising efforts will make a difference.” 

There was also a vast amount of cooperation and compromise involved when it came to deciding exactly how they should complete the circuit and this resulted in students making the journey in whichever way was best for them, though four-legged Boo was the only one who chose to swim.

On the morning of the event the whole team was treated to a breakfast of sausage and bacon baps cooked in the Oswestry campus kitchen by Lecturers Val Jones and Louise Tucker. Val Jones said “We wanted to ensure none of our team fainted along the way through having not eaten!” 

The walk started at around 9.15 and ended when Louise, Val, Mike and Boo returned to College at around 3.45 in the afternoon. 

Louise commented “Val brought a huge box of 100 plasters and we used the lot! Some of the students must have been wearing plasters on their plasters and one girl even managed to lose a toenail! At the end of the day I think Boo was the most worn out of the lot of us. She’d thoroughly enjoyed herself and was soaking wet from going in and out of the lake. All in all it was a lovely fun and relaxed, if somewhat tiring, day and we couldn’t believe how lucky we were with the weather.” 

For more information about the Woodford Foundation please visit our website at http://www.woodfordfoundation.org.uk

Casa Naranjo, located on Barracks Passage off Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury will on Sunday the 13^th of May from 2pm be hosting members of the public in a three course meal to raise funds for Woodford. The owners of Casa Naranjo, Emma and Alfonso said “we are a delighted to be able to host an event in aid of Woodford. The restaurant is quite new and the response we have had from the people of Shrewsbury has been fantastic! We are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new to the restaurant for what will be a wonderful afternoon with our homemade, authentic Spanish Tapas, live Spanish music and a great atmosphere all in aid of a fantastic charity.”

For a ticket it is requested that a minimum donation of £15 is made to Woodford and are available from the Casa Naranjo restaurant in Shrewsbury, by emailing harry@woodfordfoundation.org.uk or by visiting http://casanaranjowoodford.eventbrite.co.uk/

Woodford would like to thank Emma and Alfonso as well as all of the staff at Casa Naranjo for this opportunity and for being so generous to do this for free, meaning that every penny raised will go to Woodford.

As the new school year approaches, parents have are busy in the Shrewsbury Sainsbury’s store in Meole Brace to make sure that their children have everything they need for the start of term. As well as providing children in this country with the resources needed for school, Sainsbury’s have been supporting Woodford; the Shropshire based charity that helps deaf children and young people in the world’s poorest countries through fundraising activities in their Shrewsbury store.

Woodford Volunteers held a bag pack and collection in the store recently to raise funds for deaf children so that they are able to go to school and learn the skills needed to lift themselves out of poverty. In doing so, these children are able to end the cycle of dependence and isolation that goes hand in hand with being a deaf child in the countries that Woodford works.

With programmes in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia Woodford helps deaf children in countries where two thirds of deaf children do not attend school. However with the help of Sainsbury’s, Woodford are able to make a difference to the lives of children that would have little or no hope of going to school, let alone going onto learn the skills needed to find employment and lift themselves out of poverty. For every £10 raised, Woodford is able to provide the educational resources needed for a deaf child to go to school for a year.

Harry Salter, Woodford’s fundraising officer said “The bag pack raised a total of £200.89 which was a fantastic achievement. With £200 Woodford can help 20 deaf children in Malawi to go to school. As such they can learn the skills needed to lift themselves out of poverty, effectively helping them to help themselves. We would like to give a massive thanks to all of the Sainsbury’s staff and the Woodford volunteers for all of their hard work, and of course the generosity of the people of Shrewsbury for donating!”

To find out more about Woodford and how they are making a difference to the lives of deaf children around the world from here in Shropshire visit www.woodfordfoundation.org.uk or contact harry on 01743 364644

On hearing about the intriguing event of a Photomarathon and being assured by the delightful Harry of Woodford Foundation that absolutely NO running was required, unless I really felt it necessary, I thought why not give it a go with my newly honed photographic skills. The idea of doing something out of the ordinary, together with helping raise both money and awareness for Woodford was not to be missed and I felt up for the challenge.

The day luckily started bright & sunny (a good omen, I thought) & I made my way to the Morris Hall in Bellstone, Shrewsbury to registered, together with my camera and an empty memory card. There were other people registering their teams – either as single people or groups to make up a team & the atmosphere was full of anticipation. My memory card was checked to make sure no photographs were lurking on it, some paperwork completed and at 9.30 am we were given the first 4 topics, with a deadline to be back to submit 1 photograph per topic by 1.30 pm. All good so far – then I looked at the topics. I hadn’t really known what to expect – I didn’t think we would be given simple themes such as ‘building’, ‘people’ etc, but on first glance how to interpret ‘Awareness’, ‘Communication’, ‘Community’ and ‘ Sound/Noise/Silence’? My mind went blank & judging by the faces of some of the other people taking part they were having the same reaction.

I decided a coffee was required to get to grips with the novel concept of using brain & imagination early on a Saturday morning. Off I set to my favourite café, with ‘Awareness’ buzzing in my brain. I had decided to wander around & hopefully get inspiration as I went. As I walked down High Street, a cleaner was finishing mopping the entrance to House of Fraser & had a sign warning people to be careful. I got a shot with her just about to move the yellow sign next to the green bucket. I liked the contract of the bright colours & the part of the hand. Happy with my picture, the coffee was beckoning.

Communication – I was looking for something with newspapers & came across a newsagent with papers in a rack outside, together with various signs on the glass door into the shop. I liked the visual aspect of this & took several shots before I was happy.

Community – I found this harder to find something that was too obvious. I had walked into the Quarry to look at the children’s playground & finally took a shot of a mother & child on the outside of the playground.

Sound/Noise/Silence – shot of swan on river – it looked so peaceful and it was all quiet & still. Again several shots were taken until I was happy.

What I was discovering that the longer I had to think about each subject, the harder it became to interpret it. I seemed to need less thinking time & more using the camera intuitively.

By 1.30 pm my 4 photographs had been downloaded & we were given the last 4 topics – ‘Together’, ‘Hidden’, ‘Inclusion/Exclusion’ and ‘Access’. I had same reaction as before – help!! Again walking around hoping to get a few ideas, but wanting to take an unobvious photograph. For Together I got a nice shot of people on a bench, but it didn’t seem quite right. I walked up past the Flower Show set-up & someone had put an old pair of trainers together & filled them with flowers. I was so happy. All looked good – they were on a lovely background of blue & green & I just took the one shot. I found it hard to decide which shot to keep, but the trainers won me over in the end.

The Hidden shot was taken in St Chad’s churchyard, where I happened to hear a bird calling to her young. I finally found it hidden in a tree.

Inclusion/Exclusion – I was hoping to find some boys playing football or cricket in the Quarry, but came upon the girls playing cards & laughing

The final shot was of gates of Access taken along by the river.

Back to Morris Hall by 5.30pm to submit the final 4 photographs. A selection of the earlier topics was being shown on a projector and it was very nice to see some of my work on the screen. The first section had been judged & the second judge arrived to make his selection of the next part. I left to have a well earned drink & returned in time for the prize giving.

The overall standard was extremely high and I was absolutely stunned to win the ‘Together’ category. The photographs were amazing & it was very interesting to see how each topic was so differently interpreted.

Overall it was a really enjoyable day. I felt totally shattered at the end – having been walking around & thinking & analysing photographs & situations all day. Would I do it again – absolutely. Would I recommend any one to take part – absolutely. Many thanks to Woodford for the idea of (probably) the first Shrewsbury Photomarathon & the great organisation of the event. Looking forward to doing it again next year!

To see more of Lindy’s and all of the other contestants photos from the day you can visit www.woodfordfoundation.org.uk and www.facebook.com/wfdeaf

The Woodford Foundation Presents…

8 hours, 8 topics, 8 photos

A photography competition with a twist!

(Possibly) Shrewsbury and Shropshire’s first ever Photomarathon.

As the good old British summer is well and truly underway, the streets of Shrewsbury on the 30^th of July will see budding and professional photographers alike snapping their way to help deaf children and young people around the world.

A Photomarathon is a photograph competition with a twist: Over 8 hours you have to take pictures on 8 given topics which are currently being kept top secret!

It’s not your physical condition or equipment that matters, but your sense of improvisation, fun and creativity that is valued most throughout the Photomarathon. Whether it is on a camera phone or camera, it is your interpretation of each given topic that could win you a new camera and a host of other prizes.

From 9.30am at the Morris Hall in Shrewsbury, each entrant or team receives the first set of 4 topics. They have the next four hours to shoot one image per topic. Once the four shots have been taken entrants return to base where volunteers will download the first four photos onto waiting laptops.

Four hours later at 1.30 to 2pm pm the second set of topics are released. Each entrant must personally collect the set of topics from the HQ, and have their entry card stamped to prove attendance.

The topics are kept secret until revealed at the start of the competition and four hours later. They will offer plenty of room for interpretation and creativity. Hence, more important than the technical perfection of the pictures is the thought and imagination in interpreting the topics.

When the time is up and all of the photos are uploaded, the Woodford panel of judges will decide the winners. The photos then go on show in a free public exhibition at the Bear steps Gallery from the 11^th to the 24^th of September.

All photos must be taken in JPEG file format

To find out more, and how to register (as tickets are selling fast), visit http://photomarathonshrewsbury-eorg.eventbrite.com/