Newplayers wanted

Blantyre Soccer Academy 2010 (Black) are looking for a goal keeper and two to three advanced outfield players to replace boys who have moved onto pro youth.

The team train on a Tuesday and Thursday in Hamilton and play Saturdays in the LFDA.

For further information email: bsa2010black@gmail.com

Blantyre’s Asda store has introduced new Happy Little Helpers lists in a bid to make shopping easier for children with learning and communication difficulties.

Customers have found that the free brightly-coloured boards, by Makaton, capture children’s interest and help to give them a purpose and responsibility during a shopping trip, making the experience more fun and less stressful for both parent and child.

Makaton is a unique language programme, using symbols and signs for objects to help children ask for items they want, but might struggle to communicate verbally.

It helps develop a range of communication skills including, understanding, attention, listening, recall and organisation of language.

Created by Asda worker Jenny Barnett, whose son has non-verbal autism, the Happy Little Helper shopping lists feature a whole range of products from milk and eggs to bread and bananas that can be added to the list then ticked off when they go in the trolley.

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey, visited the store recently to speak to staff and customers about the boards.

She said: “It was great to visit the Blantyre store to hear about the Happy Little Helpers boards which are helping to make a real difference for families. It is so important that children with learning and communication difficulties are able to have a voice, express their feelings and not feel overwhelmed by the shopping experience.”

Asda Blantyre store manager, Gillian Dillon, said: “The aim of the new boards and symbols is to make shopping that little bit easier for Makaton users, so I was delighted with the positive feedback from the Minister. Asda is proud to be the first major UK supermarket chain to offer

Makaton nationwide.

“Any shoppers who would like to try out the shopping lists should visit the customer services desk in store on arrival, and a colleague will be able to advise on how to borrow a board and symbols for use throughout their shop.”

Though originally designed for children with autism, the Happy Little Helpers lists are available to all children