Centenary (From Barry And District News)

Centenary

WE would like to let your readers know that Barnardo's is celebrating a centenary in 2005.

It is 100 years since the death of its founder Dr Thomas Barnardo and the charity, which has been active in Wales for more than a century, is celebrating the difference it has made and continues to make to the lives of thousands of Welsh children.

Our modern day work in Barry and district would not have been possible without the pioneering vision and work of our founder.

We no longer run children's homes but our vision remains the same as it was in Dr Barnardo's day - that every child, whatever their background or circumstances, deserves a good start in life and the chance to build a secure future.

Today we run the Community Links services in the Vale which supports disabled children and their families.

We link a disabled child with another family in the area for regular short breaks. It gives the child a chance to make friends outside their own home, while it gives parents a break from the demands of 24 hour caring and the chance to devote more time to other children in the family.

In this our Centenary year, we are appealing to your readers, young and old, to support us in continuing our work in the Vale.

Readers can help by volunteering as a link carer or by supporting our fundraising efforts.

For example in May we run the Cardiff Bike Ride; in June we invite toddlers to take part in the Foresters Big Toddle for Barnardo's, and in October we invite participants in the Cardiff Marathon to raise funds on our behalf.

For details of these and other events log on to www.barnardos.org.uk

Finally, can we thank all the readers who have supported us over the years and helped us to give children a better start in life.

Thank you.

Raymond Ciborowski

Barnardo's Cymru,

Director