Over the past few weeks, members of TIBA have gathered food, clothing and household goods, resulting in a full van load of goods being delivered to REACH OUT this week.  Karen at NEW 2 YOU kindly supplied the van and members of TIBA helped to fill it with much of what had been collected.  The empty van was soon filled and a delivery made to the charity.

REACH OUT have now managed to extend their property (see address and map below) and the organisers were delighted with the unexpected delivery to help them in their quest.

REACH OUT have a mission statement and that is ‘We try to help anyone in need, irrespective of race, creed or status’.  They do this by providing basic food, clothes, bedding, household items and furniture.  They give support in every way they can to someone in need.

Homeless people (often through no fault of their own) now know that they can go to REACH OUT everyday and receive a cooked breakfast and lunch.  They can also have a shower and a shave, and even wash their clothes in the washing machines provided.

In an attempt to give these people back their pride and self-respect, REACH OUT also encourages people who attend the centre to carry out work.  The recently extended premises have been fitted out by these helpers.  Showers have been fitted and areas tiled.  A new kitchen has been fitted, from which one of the homeless helpers cooks up the breakfasts and lunches.

Obviously the new premises incurred a higher rent and several members of TIBA have committed to a set donation towards this every month.  Local businesses, or indeed anyone, can help by donating a sum every month, even 5 euros helps.  Why not pop in and see just what a great job the organisers of REACH OUT do on a daily basis?  Perhaps you could help at the centre.

For families, REACH OUT offer food parcels once a week, and they try to tailor the parcels as much as possible to individual needs, taking into account the size of the family etc.  For the food packs, REACH OUT are delighted to receive donations of dried, tinned or preserved foods, rice, pasta, flour.  Also eggs, cooking oil, UHT milk, processed cheese, lentils, beans, chickpeas, tinned meats or fish, biscuits, etc.  They also need baby foods, nappies, wipes, toiletries, toilet rolls and cleaning material.

People in need are also offered clothes, bedding, towels, household items and even furniture if needed when these are available.

The charity also provides food for the homeless to take away, which of course needs to be somewhat different to the usual food parcels as these people do not normally have access to cooking facilities.

In addition to all of the above, and by now you are probably wondering just what else these wonderful people can provide, they also offer counselling (although presently only in English) to the many needy people who cross their door.

Last year the organisers had a vision and that was to have much larger premises, where they could have a shop and a cafe with a social area in the front, lots of storage and workshops in the back, so that their friends if they so wished, could help with repairing furniture for sale etc.  They have now achieved this goal with the help of TIBA and the many people who donate either money, food, or any of the goods mentioned above.

TIBA will continue to help with donations and hopefully, you, the reader, will be able to help in some way.

GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

You can visit REACH OUT at

C/Bella Antonia 1 Local 5

or telephone any of the numbers on the attached leaflet.

“Reach Out/Extiende la Mano Torrevieja” is a very special and worthwhile cause which was established just over 2 years ago to support individuals and families living in Torrevieja in extremely poor conditions or have been left homeless as a result of the crisis. This is not meant as a political statement, but rather our desire to offer additional assistance to the many support mechanisms, such as for instance Cruz Roja, who are already doing everything within their means to improve living standards for families in need. Reach Out is a voluntary organisation, relying entirely on incoming donations to fund its activities, pledging every cent to the cause at hand. The founders first established a small drop in/outreach centre from a 50 sqm garage unit on Calle San Pascual, Torrevieja, where people in need could obtain support from a concerned, understanding ear. November 2011 saw them move on into new, larger premises in Calle Bella Antonia to cope with the demand of the local area and to incorporate a second hand shop to help with raising more funds. From there, Reach Out Torrevieja offers a personalised service, extending a friendship where every single visitor is important, regardless of age, nationality or religion. As well as a reassuring chat over coffee and biscuits, the charity offers the opportunity for the homeless to take a shower, shave, have a haircut, foot treatment, a clean change of clothes plus anything else needed to live on the streets. Families are offered a weekly basic food parcel to take away with them, along with bedding, towels, furniture and other household necessities. A confidential counselling service is also extended to those who are having trouble coming to terms with their situation.

Whilst all of this sounds wonderful their dreams of expanding their assistance allowing them to reach even more people in need and help much more effectively have just gone a big step closer to reality. The operation was expanded into the premises next door to the existing ones, the shop, storage and sorting area was moved there and the old shop area will now be a day/drop-in centre for the homeless. From here breakfast and a hot cooked lunch will be served, more showers are available together with the opportunity to do the laundry. The use of computers/internet is also on offer. It is hoped that this space can double up as homework/after school club for the children of registered families as conditions in the overcrowded apartments are rarely ideal for children to sit and study. Bigger premises mean higher costs, and they are also appealing to local businesses, to donate a small monthly regular payment from as little as 5 euros a month to help with extra running costs. They are also crying out for donations of any of the items noted. Food donations should ideally be non-perishable goods like UHT milk, rice, pasta, pulses, biscuits and flour, as well as processed cheese, eggs, cooking oil, tinned meats or fish. Toiletries, cleaning products, baby food, nappies would all be gratefully received.

TIBA, and local businesses are holding a fundraising Week in the Costa Blanca South and Costa Calida to focus on collecting as much as possible. Starting on Friday 17th May until Saturday 25th May you can drop off your donated goods at any of the drop off points on the information leaflets and posters as illustrated.

The Charity stresses that the problem may be more serious than you think with people from all nationalities, including Brits, being forced out of their homes. You can really make a difference by taking your donations to the outreach centre at Calle Bella Antonia 1. Opening times are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00.

For further information or to request help, please email info@reachouttorrevieja.com
www.reachouttorrevieja.com

This means it is time to be getting ready for the summer. Do you have a large open space that needs some shade??

We can provide a wide range of different style awnings to provide shade and/or shelter from the wind. Or is the material on your awning needing replacing?

We work all over Costa Calida , Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja.

Need more information take a look at our website www.bryansblinds.com

Not sure what you want give us a call and we can visit to discuss your requirements

Baby Value Pack 1

This baby value pack includes:

• Pine Cot
• Bumper Set
• Bedding
• Car seat
• Lay back buggy
• Toys

60 Euros per week (a saving of 34 when bought individually)

Baby Value Pack 2

This value pack includes:

• Travel Cot
• Bedding
• High Chair
• Car seat
• Monitor or Sterliser

55 Euros per week (a saving of 35 euros when bought individually)

 Toddler Value Pack

This toddler value pack includes:

• Travel cot
• Bedding
• Car seat
• Potty
• Toys
• Stroller

60 Euros per week (a saving of 28 when bought individually)

We are already into March so very soon the warm weather will be here and days will be longer, lighter, hotter and possibly the flies will be out!

If you already have fly screens fitted to you property now is the time to go round and check that they are all in working order and there are no holes in the netting.

If you find a broken foot on a roller blind or a hole in a sliding or fixed screen these could be repaired to provide good protection from flies when they come,

If you don’t have fly screens fitted to your property perhaps now is the time to think about fitting them to those windows that you like to leave open during the summer.

Fly screens can provide protection from flies, mosquitoes, even flying cockroaches! There are various styles of fly screens that be fitted to windows and doors that will fit the majority of window styles found here in Spain.

If you want more information you can visit our website www.bryansblinds.com or  find us on Facebook  – Bryans Blinds  or give us a call to arrange for a free no obligation home visit   on 695945717

TIBA meet at Fit For All, on the Punta Prima roundabout on the N332, see our FAQ’s for more information.

Why not join us and find out what we are about – and enjoy a coffee while doing so!

Not just any boring website, this will give our readers (and others) access to an ‘extension’ to our magazine in that we have listed the next ten most requested channels which are not included in our magazine.

There are also updates on the alternative soaps and films throughout the current week, live sports news, information on our adopted horse ‘Bronson’ and even a free-to-enter competition!

We have a full and comprehensive list of all of our outlets throughout our distribution area, which incidentally has now expanded from Olivia in the north to the Cota del Sol in the south.

Advertisers can be assured that their company information will be seen by thousands of people each week – in a short space of time we have reached the top of both Google and Yahoo listings!

TV CHOICE is available every Wednesday at a price of only 1.10 euros.

For further information on the magazine or to advertise your company please contact:

Office: 625 408 321
Sales: 620 440 152

For the first time the ExPat Lifestyle Exhibition and the Spanish Cultural exhibition will come together to provide a day out for all the family.  The exhibition will feature Lifestyle, ExpoFiesta, Tourism and Culture. Organisers are expecting many thousands of visitors, Spanish and ExPat.

TIBA will be promoting the benefits to the public on using a TIBA registered Company.  Alongside this, businesses in the area are welcome to speak with a member of TIBA to see how TIBA can benefit them in their working life.

Vist us on Stand 168 where a member of TIBA will be pleased to speak to you.

TIBA member Castelar College have been presented with the “Mercury Prize” from the Murcia Chamber of Commerce. Castelar College and Language academy were awarded the prize  for “outstanding educational services” to the community by the Murcian Chamber of Commerce.  his annual award is given to companies that not only provide an excellent quality of service whilst being innovative in their particular field, but also for delivering both nationally and internationally results to customers above & beyond their expectations.

Castelar  have been actively involved in three very special achievements during 2010-2011 and should be recognized for their determination, perseverance and enthusiasm which has resulted in Castelar College and Language Academy  being re-accredited by the Cervantes Institute, the Accreditation of Middle States America (one of the highest global quality systems in formal education) and this the MERCURY PRIZE award.
The gala dinner and presentations took place  in Murcia & was hosted by the regional government. The award was presented by the Minister of Education (Mr Sotoca) to Pilar Valdés Arroyo on behalf of the successful team that is Castelar.

The O.C. (Orihuela Costa) Guide is NOW AVAILABLE…

The long awaited Orihuela Costa Guide is now available at selected venues and outlets across the Orihuela Costa & surrounding areas.

This FREE,  colour coded guide book is crammed full of information about all aspects of life on the OC, along with ideas for people for things to do, places to visit, events and holidays schedules and directions to attractions, plus some sound advice on starting a business, the Banking System, Petcare, negotiating the minefield of the Property Markets and shopping, coupled with some beautiful images of the region and nearby areas.

The O.C. Team would like to thank all contributors, advertisers and the CoastRider for supporting this Guide and wish them all continued success in their specialist fields.

Apart from the printed version, book will also  soon be available in 2 online formats:

• As it was printed, but readable online – FREE
• To download to your iPad, iPod, Andriod and other mobile pads and devices for a very small fee of €2.50 ensuring that no matter if you are in the region or not, you can get hold of a copy.
• Watch this space for details of the electronic versions……

The OC team are currently also in negotiations with Amazon and are hoping to release a Kindle version  for purchase, early summer time, available via the Amazon website.

Look for the posters telling you where you can pick up a copy of the guide, available in Restaurants, Shops, the Town Hall (Costa), Gyms, The CoastRider office and Property Sales and Rentals companies, along with wherever else you see the poster.

Love the Orihuela Costa ?
Love the O.C. Guide, both in print and online at www.the-orihuela-costa.com

OUT NOW !!!!