Sleep-out is award boost (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Sleep-out is award boost

AN award scheme for Chipping Norton youngsters, set up in memory of a popular youth worker, has been given a boost by hardy fund-raisers.

Last Friday an intrepid band of volunteers slept under the stars outside Chipping Norton Town Hall to raise funds for the Dave Haigh Award Scheme, which was set up to reward the contribution that youngsters make to the town.

The awards scheme was founded as a lasting memorial to Mr Haigh, who was a popular youth worker in the town for more than a decade before his death four years ago.

The volunteers, including members of the town's youth club, police sergeant Clare Macintosh and town councillor Caroline Wills-Wright, slept out on Friday in a bid to raise at least £1,500 for the scheme.

Committee member Ruth Hulme said the event had been a real challenge. "It was freezing - at times it was down to minus four degrees centigrade.

"But it was worth it - we're still collecting money and we are sure we have raised much more than our target."

The volunteers were kept going through the night with food and drink from the Albion Tavern, Oxford House and the Anarkali Indian restaurant.

This year's Dave Haigh award, the second, will be presented next month.