Chamber raises £860 for the Lighthouse Project

 

Date:   02 July 2001

 

 

Mary Reader, President of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce visited the Lighthouse Youth project last week to chat to the young people present and joined in a spot of lively guitar playing. She also presented a cheque for £860. The money was raised at the Chamber’s annual dinner and dance, purely from the proceeds from the raffle and the auction of the ‘Christchurch Cookery Book’ signed by all the visiting top chefs and food writers who visited Christchurch for the Food and Wine Festival.

 

Guests heard an inspiring appeal by local WPC Brenda Traylen, our wonderful community policewoman, for support for the Lighthouse Project for Young People,” says Mary “Everyone was so impressed by the account of the excellent work that is done by Ron Knights and his team that they dug deep into their pockets and we raised more than ever before from just 114 people. We really do need to find a permanent headquarters for the Lighthouse. At present only 40 young people can attend and there is a need for this to be enlarged dramatically. The centre of Christchurch badly needs more youth facilities and the Chamber is keen to help.

 

During the current year the Chamber has helped to raise over £9,000 for local charities from the proceeds of the Food and Wine Festival, The Snow Queen Procession, the Late Night Opening and the Dinner Dance.

 

Other recipients have been:

 

The Christchurch Macmillan Unit

Portfield School

The Air Training Corps

The Regent Centre