YMCA centres compete in bowling match (From Watford Observer)

YMCA Highfield and YMCA Orbital takepart in bowls match

4:52pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News

Competitive spirit was in the air today, as staff and users of YMCA Highfield and YMCA Orbital, gathered at Orbital Community Centre in Watford for a charity bowling match.

Teams of 12 to 14 showed off their bowling prowess, competing to take home a coveted trophy.

Bernie Harewood, who manages the community centre in Haines Way, said: "The main aim of today is to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. Our youth group is making ten boxes filled with goodies to give to the needy on Remembrance Day.

"We hope to put in a special poppy in each of the boxes, and the money we raise will go towards this. Any excess cash collected will be given to the Poppy Appeal.

"The event is also about bringing staff and users of YMCA Highfield and YMCA Orbital together."

While bowlers rolled their bowls along a makeshift green in the hall, in the kitchen, two members of the community centre’s youth group, Elle O’Brien and Tiffany Sherrie, were busy make sandwiches and refreshments for the participants.

The two teens, along with three others, will be tasked with making up the food boxes filled with items courtesy of free food supply organisation FareShare, to give away on Remembrance Day.

Elle, 14, said: "I joined the youth group because I wanted to feel like I was giving back to the community, I also wanted to feel like I was getting to know people in the area a bit more.

"It’s a great feeling giving these boxes to those that need them. We’ve done four lots so far, and when we hand them over to people, the look on their faces - there are no words to express how happy and surprised they feel."