Charlene Barnett, chairman of Bridge Street Buddies, says Buddies are trying to make it better (From Hereford Times)

Charlene Barnett, chairman of Bridge Street Buddies, says Buddies are trying to make it better

3:00pm Sunday 12th February 2012 in Letters

WE were saddened but not surprised to read (Hereford Times, January 19) that “two of the worst wards for child poverty in the county are in Leominster”.

The good news, though, is that local people are acting together to try to make things better.

For the last two years a local voluntary group, the Bridge Street Buddies, has been running events and activities aimed at children – including fun days, Christmas parties and Hallowe’en events.

The aim of the group – based in the Ridgemoor area and consisting entirely of volunteers – is to provide low-cost and accessible opportunities for families to have fun together. The Buddies also run the Little Buddies creche and a regular youth activities session at Bridge Street sports centre.

The group is supported by Leominster-based Red Spark Learning Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit company, which provides the training Bridge Street Buddies need to run their events and activities.

The company also helps local people gain qualifications in English, maths, IT and other subjects, to improve their chances of finding a job or moving on to more specialised training.

Both Red Spark and the Buddies are run on a shoestring, but they demonstrate the commitment of local people to improve the lives of children and adults in Leominster.

To find out more about our work, or to support us in any way, we can be contacted via Facebook (look for Bridge Street Buddies or Red Spark Learning) or email bridgestreetbuddies@gmail.com.

CHARLENE BARNETT, Chairman, Bridge Street Buddies.