Maidenhead & Windsor

World cup fever goes into extra time in the Maidenhead Royal Borough this week as service users from two day centres kick-start their traditional English open day with a timely five-a-side football tournament.

The official World Cup might be well and truly over but staff and service users from the centres – Brunel in Maidenhead and Oakbridge in Windsor - are continuing to fly the English flag as they throw open their doors on Thursday July 13 for a peep behind the scenes at the Brunel Centre in Brunel Road, Maidenhead.

The whistle goes at 1.15pm for the start of the football tournament – and the traditional action continues throughout the afternoon with maypole and Morris dancing displays from pupils of Maidenhead Furze Platt Junior School, stalls and sideshows, cream teas, and a barbecue in the evening starting at 6.30pm.

Two presentations will take place during the afternoon:

· Roger Preedy of Maidenhead Golf Club will present a cheque for £3000 to the two centres on behalf of the golf club

· Cllr Pam Proctor, lead member for Maidenhead social services, will present a cheque for £900, the result of sales of art work done by service users at the centres and exhibited recently at Norden Farm Centre for the arts.

Visitors will also be able to learn more about the successful buddy scheme, running for the last three years in Windsor, and now being launched in Maidenhead. The scheme recruits volunteers to befriend a service user at one of the centres and enjoy days out and shared activities.

Maidenhead Cllr Pam Proctor, lead member for social services, said: "This open day will be a great opportunity for people to find out more about the very valuable work that goes on at both Brunel and Oakbridge day centres on a regular basis.

"Service users at the centres already enjoy a wide range of activities aimed at developing both their practical and social skills. The buddy scheme is proving to be a huge success in Windsor and we now want to launch it in Maidenhead to provide even more opportunities for their personal development.

"I hope as many people as possible take advantage of the summer sunshine to come along to Brunel and join in the fun!"

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead