House builder ‘lends a hand’

Fri, Oct 13th 2006, 11:00

The famous Brownie motto is to ‘lend a hand’ and that’s exactly what a house builder in Solihull has done.

Brand new Brownies, Guides and Rainbows groups will start up in Dickens Heath, Solihull, after Redrow Homes pledged its support.

Redrow, the main developer in the consortium that’s creating the new Dickens Heath village off Rumbush Lane, has promised a £750 contribution to the organisers to cover the costs of starting up the groups. The money will go towards renting venues and providing materials for crafts and activities.

Organisers of the new units, Amanda Robinson and Vicky Barclay, have been guide leaders in the Shirley Park district for several years and say the groups will benefit all girls in Dickens Heath aged between five and fourteen. Vicky said: "I knew of several girls who were driven into Shirley to attend brownies and guides because there weren’t any units within walking distance in Dickens Heath.

Amanda said, "We had a stall at the first Dickens Heath village fete recently, and the response from parents was amazing.

"We had mums thanking us and saying they had been waiting for Rainbows, Brownies and Guide groups to set up closer to home. By the end of the day, we had more than 20 girls sign up, but we still urgently need leaders to come forward to help run the groups."

Amanda explained that once the groups are established and enough girls are attending, the subscriptions paid by the girls will be enough to cover the running costs. She said: "Redrow has been brilliant - starting new movements from scratch isn’t cheap, but we know the interest is there, so the money will allow us to get started and to a point when the groups pay for themselves.

A Company Secretary at planning and architectural firm, Tyler-Parkes, Amanda often works through lunchtime so she can get home early to help with the guides. She said: "I find it so rewarding - a lot of hard work and commitment is needed to keep the groups running, and none of us are being paid, but when you see the girls singing, laughing, having fun and leaving at the end with a beaming smile, that makes it all so worthwhile."

David Campbell-Kelly, Redrow’s Midlands regional chairman, said: "Dickens Heath is more than a new homes development – it’s a brand new village, with a real community that’s growing by the day as new residents move in.

"We always try to support worthwhile causes which will benefit the local community and this is the perfect example - young girls growing up in the village will have a worthwhile hobby, while parents will not have to make long journeys to get their children to the groups. I wish the organisers of the new movement every success in setting up the units"

The new Rainbow group will begin after October half term and meetings will be on Thursdays in Dickens Heath village hall from 4.45pm to 5.45pm. The new Brownies group is aiming to start running at the Tidbury Green School nearby on Wednesdays, while a time and location for the Guides unit has yet to be confirmed.

Redrow is one of the UK’s top 10 house builders and has a strong presence across the Midlands. As well as the new village that’s being created at Dickens Heath, Redrow also has several other high profile schemes including Jupiter in Birmingham city centre, the refurbishment of the former St Edwards Hospital in Cheddleton, near Leek and several developments aimed firmly at first time buyers, in Castle Vale and Hilton.

 

For more information on Redrow’s links with the local community, browse online at www.redrow.co.uk.

For details of the new Dickens Heath Rainbow, Brownies and Guides groups, call the Girl Guides helpline on free phone 0800 169 5901 or go online at www.girlguiding.org.uk.