Summer 2010


Street PARTY! The community centre on


Trapwood Close recently hosted a street party for the local community to enjoy.


Helena’s scheme manager, Julie White, helped to organise an afternoon of fun including bouncy castles for the children, a DJ, raffle, tombola and refreshments.


Luckily the weather was on their side too and everyone enjoyed a get together with their neighbours.


Mental Health Art Exhibition


To celebrate World Mental Health Day on Sunday, October 10, we are asking tenants to take part in an art exhibition, ‘A Place Called Home’.


World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The Day promotes more open discussion of illnesses, and investments in prevention and treatment services.


The exhibition, at the Godfrey Pilkington Art Gallery, will run from Friday, September 24, to Saturday, October 9, and will explore the link between housing and mental health well-being.


You can be any age to submit an entry and can enter either as an individual or part of a group. If you would like to submit any artwork, contact Tanya Roberts on 01744 63 73 83.


Expressions of interest in taking part should be made by Friday, August 6, and artwork must be themed around ‘A Place Called Home’.


Day out to the Science Museum


Youngsters from Thatto Heath recently enjoyed a day out to the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.


More than 30 youngsters, aged eight to 14, went on the trip, which was funded by Helena’s anti-nuisance team.


The group were rewarded with the trip following their hard work on the Springwatch Scheme, which involved doing clean-ups, litter picking and planting in their local area.


Youngsters spent the day exploring the engines room, featuring some old-fashioned trains, which they were lucky enough to get really close to.


The room also contained working examples of gas, oil, hot-air and diesel engines, made by local companies.


The group rounded off their day with a classroom session where they got to try out some weird and wonderful experiments.


ST GEORGE’S DAY CELEBRATIONS


St Helens’ older residents really got into the swing of things at a range of St George’s day celebrations across Helena Extra’s facilities.


Patriotic and nostalgic sing songs, games and even strawberries and cream were on the agenda, along with poetry readings and a talk on St Helens’ history.


At Parr Mount Court residents took part in games of bingo and Play Your Cards Right, as well as moving to the modern age with a bowling contest on the Wii computer games console – they even used a new carpet bowls mat to test their skills at the real thing. After lunch, there was a sing song and later residents were treated to a film show of scenes of old St Helens.


And it wasn’t just Parr Mount Court where celebrations took place – at the Rainford Road sheltered scheme in Billinge, festivities went into the early hours of the next morning, with a buffet, a local band singing old English songs, a St George’s Day quiz, English poetry readings, lots of flag waving and a little tipple. Other sheltered accommodation schemes dressed in red and white to celebrate the day.


Helena’s Project Officer for Older People, Nikki Wilkinson, said: “Events like these are really good for sparking off memories and getting our residents chatting to each other about the good old days. There is always a lot of flag waving, laughing and joking and the lovely weather also really raised everyone’s spirits.”


4 9


Combatting Anti-Social Behaviour


Activities and trips were put on across the borough to combat the potential rise in anti-social behaviour during the lighter evenings.


Hundreds of youngsters attended the


free activities over the last few months, which were open to children of all ages.


The scheme was a huge success and has helped further reduce anti-social behaviour in St Helens, thanks to the series of pioneering programmes for young people across the borough.


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