Tag Archives: donations

Tackling hygiene poverty in and around Newark

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For the first time in a long time, not one but two guests in the studio with June this weekend…

When Ginette Smith and and her daughter Kayleigh Hardy join forces to talk about a recently-launched local project that’s part of a national charity called The Hygiene Bank.

The charity’s belief is simple – basic hygiene is not a privilege – and its vision is to ensure that one day everyone living in the UK will have access to essential hygiene products.

It’s just a few weeks since the launch of the Newark Hygiene Bank and in the second hour of the show Ginnette will be explaining why and how she became its co-ordinator, as well as how local businesses and residents can help it achieve its aims.

“The UK is facing the biggest drop in living standards since the 1950s and as the cost of living reaches record levels, many people across the country are finding themselves caught between being able to heat their homes, pay the rent, buy food or keep clean,” she says.

“As a result, increasing numbers of households are now exposed to hygiene poverty and are left without access to essentials such as nappies, toothpaste and period products.

“Our aim is to help them overcome this problem and to do so we’re looking to house donation boxes in local stores or pick up such items from them so that those in need can collect the products from Beaumont Walk Community Centre on Strawberry Hall Lane in Newark.”

Make sure you tune in to 107.8FM or listen on the apps, on Alexa or online from just after 11am to find out more from Ginnette and Kayleigh…

And in the meantime, if you’re a local business owner able to house a collection box or donate hygiene products, you can get in touch with Ginnette by email here.

Bring out your bras!

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When Janice Holmes launched her new mobile bra fitting business in Newark recently, even she couldn’t have imagined quite how far she’d be travelling to share her knowledge and expertise…

To say she was excited about what she had to tell June and Rachel this morning is quite possibly the biggest understatement of all time. But then why wouldn’t she be when she’s off to Gambia later this year?

Janice joined the Girls Around Town in the studio to reveal all and to explain how listeners living in Newark and beyond can offer her their support – quite literally!!

She’ll be making the trip in November, accompanied by son Tom and daughter Victoria, to meet and talk to girls and women of all ages living in Gambia.

And above all, with a little help from some of her suppliers and hopefully from you as well, to provide as many of them as possible with their first ever bras…

Janice will be working with the NEW LIFE CHILDREN’S CENTRES charity and all the bras collected will be sent to West Africa in early August to await her arrival.

So how can you help?

Quite simply, check your underwear drawers! How many bras in there do you no longer wear? Too big, too small, the wrong style or colour – chances are you’ll find one or two at least.

All she’s asking is that you donate those unwanted undies – any style or size, so long as they’re in reasonable condition – by taking them to one of the collection points listed below by Monday 29 July.

And don’t forget to tell all your female friends and relatives – guys, that includes you too! – and ask them to get involved. Because every single bra collected will find a new home in Gambia and help change a life…

Bring Out Your Bras! collection points can be found at

New Life Children’s Centre, The Arcade, Newark                                              Carriages Café, Platform 1, Newark Castle Station
Tennyson Wharf Care Home, Burton Waters, Lincoln
Larkhill Retirement Village, Clifton, Nottingham
Janice Rose Lingerie, Juniper Lea, 1A Grove Street, Balderton, Newark

Food for thought

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You’ve almost certainly heard of foodbanks – perhaps you’ve even donated food or household products at a collection point located in one of the shops or churches in or around the town…

But how much do you really know about the work done by the volunteers who run and staff the Newark Foodbank?

One of those volunteers, Jenni Harding, joins the Girls Around Town on this week’s show to explain why, when and where the Newark Foodbank first opened its doors and how it’s grown since then.

Find out how the tinned, long-life, packet and non-perishable foodstuffs, basic toiletries and baby needs donated by the local community are helping to change the lives of single people, couples and families who, for a myriad of different reasons, find themselves short of money and in a crisis situation.

Tune in or listen online from 10am to 12 noon  on Sunday when there’ll be more food for thought from Rachel and Rosalyn as they share some of their own recipes for simple, nutritious meals.

And, if you miss the show, don’t forget to keep an eye on the GAT Facebook page for the link to the podcast early the following week…