If you have just moved to the area and not yet received your HCERA Welcome Pack, please contact us.

by Ray George
What is S-LINk? It stands for Southampton Local Involvement Network, as I found out when I took up an invitation to attend a meeting on 17th March. It is yet another government initiative to involve the community. This time, it is community involvement in the planning, commissioning and delivery of health and social care services.

It replaces Patient and Public Involvement Forums, which only in 2003 had replaced Community Health Councils. Anyone can belong to S-LINk. You can join on line at www.s-link.co.uk. There will be a steering group of 20 people and recruits are still needed.

At its last meeting, the Committee appointed Andy Sharvill to be our new treasurer. By profession, Andy is an accountant, so our money should be in safe hands. This appointment is subject to confirmation at the next AGM.

Eastleigh Glass and Window Centre, 154 High Street, Eastleigh, tel: 023 80614216, for secondary glazing.

Original Collins kitchen unit from Ethelburt Avenue, available either whole or for spares, Tel: 023 80555188 (see this Newsletter on the Web for a photo)

by Liz Cox, 11 Stoneham Lane

I’m sure many of you have discovered the Southampton freecycle group but in case you haven’t and are in the middle of a New Year declutter…the Southampton Freecycle® group is open to all Southampton residents who wish to “recycle” that special something rather than throw it away. It’s part of The Freecycle Network®, a nonprofit making organization which is interested in keeping good stuff out of landfill. You can recycle almost anything as long as it’s not alive! (Rules are on the website). I’ve recycled curtains, Christmas trees and games, but it’s particularly good for things that are too big for most charity shops and it’s nice not to have to trek to the Dump. You need to be ‘online’ and it’s free to join. Everything you offer must be offered free but you can also post ‘wanted’ adds. If anything takes your fancy, you email the person offering it, but obviously you are not always successful. Some people complain that they’ve had their time wasted when items are not picked up when agreed, but I’ve never experienced that problem. I’ve met a lot of very nice people who were very glad to take my ‘stuff’ away and I was glad to see it go to a good home!
If you want to try it -
google freecycle Southampton and you’re away!

Our treasurer, Ellen Horton has recently moved from the area. Ellen has been looking after the Association’s accounts for nearly seven years and before that was the street rep for Bassett Green Road. We will miss her level headed and thoughtful contributions to the Committee. We wish Ellen and Tom and their son Peter all the best in their new home.

by Rachel Ojany

The Book Reading Group is small, friendly and always ready to welcome new members. Our book choice this year has included a variety of books such as “Rough Music” by Patrick Gale, “Things Far Apart” by Chinua Achebe and “The L-shaped Room” by Lynne Reid Banks. Each month, a member of the group has the opportunity to pick a book from the list provided by Portswood Library. The chosen book is then discussed at the following meeting. We meet on the last Thursday in the month at 7.30pm in Ethelburt Avenue. The evening ends with tea and a biscuit or the occasional glass of wine. If you are interested in joining the group or would like to find out more, please ring Peter Martin on 8032 2332.

Just good friends? A fox photographed in a resident’s garden.