THE Stricklandgate House Trust in Kendal is throwing open its doors and inviting people to take a look at the range of community work being done in the area.

There are 20 voluntary organi-sations that make up the organisation and the trust is hoping to showcase their successes and highlight the services they provide. Dr Colin Reynolds, chairman of the Stricklandgate House Trust, said many local people were unsure about what happened in the house on Stricklandgate. "They probably have little idea of the enormous benefits to the community that our work brings, or of a particular service that may be personally relevant," he said. As well as guided tours, there will be a short address by Kendal Town Mayor Coun Marilyn Molloy and the chance to see the conference and IT facilities that the trust has available for hire. The centre will be open from 11am 7pm on Thursday, October 14.

CUMBRIA Police Authority's Eden Area Community Liaison Forum will take place on September 15 at Appleby. Among the matters to be discussed will be crime prevention and home security as well as crime statistics for North Cumbria. There will also be a question time session for members of the public. The forum will be held at 7pm the Tufton Arms Hotel, Market Square.

A STREET collection held by the South Lakes Society for the Blind in Milnthorpe on August 13 raised £207.10. The money will be used to provide practical help and support through the society's Sight Advice Centre at Strickland-gate House, Kendal. Mean-while, the Barrow and District Society for the Blind held a flag day in Grange-over-Sands on August 20 and raised £206.22.

A COMMUNITY awareness day has been organised in Arnside tomorrow (Sep-tember 11) to answer a range of questions relating to HM Coastguard, First Res-ponders, Age Concern, Cumbria Fire Service and the police. If you want to know how the National Trust and the Arnside and Silverdale AONB can influence the local environment, then the place to be between 10am and 4pm is the Educational Institute on Church Hill. The event has been organised by the Arnside Parish Plan Trust, admission is free, and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

RESTAURATEURS and chefs alike are being asked to help provide as many meals as possible to feed hungry children. During Restaurants Against Hunger Week', which runs from October 9-17, restaurants will invite their customers to treat starving children to a meal by making a donation when they pay the bill - just £1 can provide a full meal for four children in Africa. Numerous chefs, including Rick Stein who made an appeal on BBC Radio 4 earlier this year, are backing the campaign. For details, call 020-7232-0606.

THE Sun Hotel at Troutbeck Bridge will be hosting a Northern Soul and Tamla Motown charity night in aid of Cancer Research on Saturday, September 25, starting at 8pm.