It’s still not too late for Marlborough News Online readers to support their favourite charity or community organisation in the Budgens of Marlborough Community Giveaway.
Nine organisations won through a 19-strong preliminary round to win a place in the finale of the competition to win a share of a £6,000 jackpot.
And at The Theatre on the Hill, ST John’s School on Thursday evening (September 27, 7pm-9pm), members of the public will be able to vote for the three organisations that will each walk away with cheques for £1,000.
And all of the nine finalists will get a share of another £1,000 over the first three months of the new forecourt opening.
Customers will be given a token each time they shop, to vote for one of three organisations per month. Each of these three organisations will get a share of £1,000, proportional to the amount of tokens they receive in-store.
Anyone can apply for a ticket, which will give them a vote to support their favourite community organisation. Tickets, which are free, can be booked at www.budgensmarlborough.eventbrite.com
And it’s not just the contestants who’ll be going home with prizes. Every member of the audience will get a Golden Ticket entitling them to discounts from the convenience store, 2p a litre off fuel, or a half price car wash. There are also a £25 shopping voucher and a Window Van worth £50 to be won.
The Community Giveaway is being staged by Budgens of Marlborough, which is opening a petrol station, convenience store and Subway outlet at Marlborough Business Park in October. Work on the £2 million development, which will create 50 new jobs, started in July.
The finalists, and their projects, are:
Education and Young People:
St John’s School
Having completed the new school building without the help of any national government funding, and moved in late 2009, the school is now working hard to raise the money needed to complete the external sports facilities at the new school. The All-Weather Pitch will not only benefit the students, but will also be available for evening, weekend and school holiday use by the wider local community.
Marlborough Brandt Group
To enable six students studying for the international baccalaureate from St John’s School in Marlborough to travel on a study visit to The Gambia with a teacher and an education worker from MBG, to enhance their learning about development in an African community.
Savernake Forest Scout Group
Savernake Forest Scout Group requires new lightweight tents so that the 60 young members of the scout troop can go on camping adventures and develop key life skills through adventurous physical activity.
Health, Wellbeing and Social:
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
To support the running costs of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, the only emergency helicopter in the UK to fly with a pilot, paramedic and police observer at all times. Each day the Wiltshire Air Ambulance is called out an average of three times. Since 2009 the Wiltshire Air Ambulance has attended 41 emergency incidents in Marlborough and Pewsey alone. It costs almost £2,000 per day to keep the Wiltshire Air Ambulance flying and saving lives.
Splitz – KidzPace
Working with children aged 11-17 who have witnessed or been exposed to domestic abuse in Marlborough and Pewsey. Splitz provides a mix of one to one support and group work to build children’s confidence and self-esteem.
Carer Support Wiltshire
To support the work of the Wiltshire-wide charity that gives free and confidential emotional support, information, advice and breaks to unpaid carers living in the county.
Community & The Arts:
Phoenix Brass Band
To purchase two tenor horns to enlarge the horn section of the training band, which exists to introduce any person, young or old, to the joys of music and brass banding.
Marlborough Communities Market
To support the ongoing success of the monthly Marlborough Communities Market, a not-for-profit enterprise working in collaboration with Transition Marlborough and Marlborough Town Council and incorporating a farmers’ market and local crafts and produce.
We Love Marlborough
To bring Christmas cheer to Marlborough families, We Love Marlborough would like Father Christmas to be free to visit in the town hall this year, and have an free top-quality artist-led Christmas crafts-making session culminating in a procession at the lights switch on at 7pm. The Christmas Lights Switch On Activities will take place on 29 November 2012.
Apple day organisers promise a jam-packed day
