IT was "full house" in Stourport as two Brownie packs turned to bingo to help raise cash for Operation Covert.

About 80 people turned out for an evening of the popular game at the Mid-Severn Scout Centre in Lickhill Road.

The event, organised by the 5th and 6th Stourport Brownies, raised £140 for our appeal.

Cathy Ready, Brown Owl for both groups, said: "It was a great night and everybody had a lot of fun. There was a lot of shrieking from the girls when they had a full house.

"The girls will go to Rhydd Covert when they join the Guides so they felt it was important they raise money to rebuild the centre.

"As an ex-Brownie and Guide from Kidderminster I remember walking around there. I have done many miles around Rhydd Covert, so I am thrilled the girls wanted to do something."

Baking up a tasty treat

EXCLUDED pupils brushed up their culinary skills by making cakes for a table top sale in aid of our appeal.

Youngsters from the Pupil Referral, Unit in Bewdley Road, Kidderminster, baked more than 80 cakes for Saturday's sale, which raised £130.

The sale was carried out by members of KD9 Spennells Scout group at the John Stretton Hall in New Road, Kidderminster.

Fran Davies, food technology teacher at the unit, said: "We are really pleased. We do need some good press for these students because they do work really hard."

Sale organiser, Connie Croft, said: "We were very grateful for the cakes, they looked lovely and tasted nice as well."

The cash will be split between Operation Covert and KD9, who lost equipment during the fire which gutted the Scout centre in October.

Rallying round for appeal

THE importance of helping young people achieve their potential has stayed with a former Kidderminster Scout who has made a contribution to our appeal.

Teacher, Nigel Balchin, who now lives and works in Reading, said he was pleased to help Operation Covert and continue the valuable resource at Rhydd Covert.

The 53-year-old, who was a Cub, Scout and senior Scout with Harkaway group, said: "I am an assistant head teacher and help in many activities in school, taking trips myself, accompanying other trips and helping with the school Duke of Edinburgh group in a small way, so I am very involved in working with young people."

The former Kidderminster resident left Wyre Forest in 1969 to attend university and learned about our appeal while visiting his sister, who still lives in the town.

He now works at The Abbey School in Reading.

He said: "I appreciated all that I gained from being a Scout and enjoyed the camping, walking and gang shows and have great memories of Rhydd Covert and the old hut.

"I can remember it being built. My donation is one way in which I can help repay the Scout movement."

l Members of Stourport Choral and Operatic Society and the Kidderminster-based Classical Music Society have sung the praises of our Scout campaign.

Members of the society will perform on Monday night and all donations will go to Operation Covert.

Christmas favourites are promised at the concert, which starts at 8.30pm at the Queen's Head pub in Wolverley.

A collection at the Classical Music Society's Christmas party on Friday and a donation from the society raised £31 for our appeal.

l Members of a slimmers' club might have cut down their food helpings but have been more than generous with their wallets after donating £75.

A Stourport branch of Slimming World donated cash raised from refreshments sold at group sessions at the home of Lickhill Scouts in Lickhill Road North.

Jane Smith, who runs the group, said: "The Lickhill Scouts will benefit in the long run. All the Scout movements have used Rhydd Covert at some time. We were only too pleased to help."

Boost from a classic tale

GENEROUS parents showed they were no Scrooges by pledging cash to Operation Covert at a school's retelling of the classic Christmas tale.

A collection at Wolverley Sebright First School's production of Scrooge, based on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, raised £150 for our appeal.

Headteacher, Peter Mountford, thanked parents who packed out both showings of the production at the school.

He said: "We always donate to a local charity so this year we decided to donate to Operation Covert.

"It was a full house for both sessions and all the children in the school were involved. It went down very well with parents."

He went on: "We are hoping quite a few of the children are interested in joining things like the Scouts, Guides and Brownies - it helps the children to get into out-of-school activities."

How you can help...

If you wish to make a donation to Operation Covert, you can:

l Call in at the Shuttle/Times and News offices in Blackwell Street, Kidderminster, during normal business hours from 9am to 5pm.

l Post donations to Operation Covert, c/o Oliver Evans, Shuttle/Times and News, 6 Towers Buildings, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster DY10 2DY. Please make cheques payable to Rhydd Covert Campsite.

l Post donations to Sam Rees, Rhydd Covert treasurer, 20 Wilton Avenue, Kidderminster DY11 5PR.

If you are organising an event or would like advice on how to, contact Oliver Evans at the Shuttle/Times and News on 01562 633340 or the newsdesk on 01562 633347 or email Oliver Evans at oliver.evans@ midlands.newsquest.co.uk

l More information about Scouting in Wyre Forest can be obtained by visiting: www.kidderminsterscouts.org.uk and www.rhyddcovert.org.uk