A CASH gift will help Worcester youngsters break the ice and forge new friendships with each another.

The 15th Worcester Guides applied to the Making a Difference campaign, run by the Evening News and Worcester Round Table, for some cash, so they could go on an outing with other guide units in the city.

Guide leader Rachel Betteridge said a social outing would be a good way of "breaking the ice" for the 26 girls, all aged between 10 and 16 years old - and what better way to do it than with a trip to an ice skating rink?

"I would really like to take the girls on a trip along with another unit of Guides, to try and allow the girls to build friendship bonds across the city," said Miss Betteridge, who is herself aged just 16.

"With the help of the Making a Difference campaign we can take the first step towards breaking the ice between the young people of Worcester.

"We can use the £200 donated by the campaign to cover the cost of a coach and driver to take the girls ice skating.

"I hope that we will then be able to take part in other activities with this unit in the future."

So far this year, the Making a Difference campaign has already given away almost £2,000 in cash to community clubs and groups - but there is still plenty left.

Recipients

In January, the lucky recipients were the YMCA, in Worcester, who used £400 to buy new dining room furniture, the Broadwas-on-Teme Senior Friendly Club, who used their £120 to pay for a trip to Cheddar Gorge, the Hooked Junior Fishing Club, which bought £250 worth of new fishing rods, and the David Phillips Appeal Fund, which received £200 for educational toys.

In February, £500 cash went to Ombersley Road church hall, in Worcester, so it could be repainted, £200 went to the Nora Parsons Day Centre, in Abberley, near Worcester, for a new water heater, £100 was given to the Friday Friendship Group, for an outing, and £300 went to the Blackpole Residents Group so children could go to the seaside.

In March, the cash was split between the Heenan & Froude Social Club, which received £300 for new toilets, the Drakes Broughton Mums and Tots Group, in Drakes Broughton, near Worcester, which received £150 for new toys, the 15th Worcester Guides, who received £200 for their ice skating trip, and London Road Playgroup, Worcester, which received £130 for a nature outing for the children.