Businesses lend support to Community Information Centre in Harleston
Rackham’s Funeral Service has shown their support to the volunteer run Community Information Centre at Harleston (Harleston Information Plus).
Nicola Cobbold, Funeral Director, from Rackham’s Funeral service attended the Launch of the ‘Friends of Harleston Information Plus’ on Tuesday evening to present them with a surprise cheque for £300. According to Nicola ‘we see Harleston Information Plus as an extremely valuable resource for the town, serving a great cross section of the community as well as many visitors. As a long established business here we feel very much part of the community and are pleased to be in a position to support the launch of The Friends of Harleston Information Plus.’
Robin Twigge from the Swan Hotel is also offering his support to the ‘Friends’ by offering the group use of the meeting room free of charge.
Ruth Brown, Director of Harleston Development Partnership and a volunteer at Harleston Information Plus came up with the idea of having a ‘Friends’ as the current level of funding for HIP runs out in June 2008.
Ruth believes setting up a ‘Friends’ will encourage local people to become involved in helping to keep the centre running.
HIP currently deals with 5,000 enquiries a year and Ruth says that ‘it would be a great loss to the town and local residents if it were to close. Closure would mean so many services such as the issue of bus passes, railcards, access to the Citizens Advice Bureau, Council Information, careers advice and very much more would not be able to be accessed locally, which would mean either people have to go without or phone or travel to Long Stratton, Diss or Norwich’.
A steering committee was formed on the night to focus on potential ways of raising the profile of the centre and to look at different ways of fundraising.
If you can offer help in any way, whether in time helping to fundraise or financial support, please contact Ruth through HIP on 01379 851917
Email:
[email protected]
Or look at our website for more details:
