What are you doing on the morning of Saturday 1 ?July? Why not do a spring clean, get rid of some of that clutter, with a table top sale at Castlefields Community Centre.

Tables are £10 and cash goes to The Mayors’ charities, Speak Out and H.E.A.R.T.S.

Why not come along and get some bargains at the event, at Village Square,WA7 2ST, which lasts from 10am to 2pm? You can pre-book a table on 0151 511 7474.

HALTON SPEAK OUT

Halton Speak Out was founded in 2001. The main function of the group is to support individuals with learning disabilities by offering a wide range of services, which include self-advocacy, person centred planning, employment opportunities, training, peer advocacy and a people’s cabinet.

The Group’s mission statement is “the right to have a life.” This statement reflects the strong ethos of the organisation as it continues to fight inequalities facing individuals with learning disabilities.

It supports individuals, their families and carers in accessing the same opportunities, civil rights and lifelong aspirations as every other person.

The group has worked in partnership with social care, education, police and other partners to enable individuals to have a greater say over their own lives and the lives of their peers. They have helped improve services and integration for all within Halton.

It aims to work with people supporting them to reach their full potential, opening up the world of opportunity and enabling them to enjoy a fulfilled life as equal members of society.

Often described as a group who see “the glass half full rather than half empty” – using creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship to improve the lives of people with a learning disability.

H.E.A.R.T.S. (Halton Entertainment Arts Regional Theatre School)

Halton’s first all inclusive, not-for-profit community theatre group was founded in January 2000 as a fundraising project by the joint churches of Saint Basil and All Saints. Its aim was to raise funds to finance a Millennium Garden of Remembrance for the local community of the Upton area of Halton.

This proved to be a great resource in the local community to distract young people from anti-social behaviour. It also built self-worth and confidence to those who would not normally be able to afford access to theatrical opportunities by teaching both technical and performing art by industry professionals.

Some young people have progressed to careers in the industry by becoming actors, dancers and dance teachers. One young person became, and still is a successful manager of a theatre in Lancaster.

HEARTS provided young people with opportunities to perform in many musical theatre productions and dance shows. They have been winners in dance competitions at the Liverpool Empire and Echo Arena, danced to a European audience on the stage of Disneyland Paris, and danced at Alton Towers ‘Scarefest’.

HEARTS has taken groups to see West End productions and backstage theatre tours in London. They currently perform annually in the Clatterbridge fundraiser ‘One Small Step’ and for the Mayor of Halton’s own fundraising group at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn each year.

HEARTS annual family pantomime at Upton Community Centre in Widnes has sold out to audiences for the past seventeen years. All this is funded by HEARTS and community grants and donations from local businesses.