Funding required for twin town trip (From Borehamwood Times)

Funding required for twin town trip to France

1:40pm Thursday 21st January 2010 in News By Suruchi Sharma

Left to right: Nick Males, Janet Chan, Nigel Clark with French teacher Irmine Mason at a free BETTA French event at the Ibis Hotel, in Borehamwood

A TWIN town association is looking for funding to subsidise an educational trip to France for residents of low-income families this week.

The trip, organised by Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association (BETTA), will be in June and aims to give a cultural experience to people who are unable to afford a holiday abroad.

The aim of the association is to form connections with the area's twin towns including French town Fontenay-aux-Roses on the outskirts of Paris, and of Offenburg in south-west Germany near Strasbourg.

Chairman of the association, Martine Eni, is aiming for the ticket price to be £100 for the trip from Friday, June 4, until Sunday, June 6.

This will include travel, bed and breakfast and entrance to either the Louvre or a trip to Versailles.

Mrs Eni said: “This trip is firstly for people who don’t get the opportunity to go abroad and also for people who have can afford it but have just not been before.

“An important thing is people who want to go don’t have to speak any French for this trip. All the guides speak English and this is an educational experience as well as an opportunity to learn something about another culture.

“The weekend planned for the trip is when there is a carnival in Fontenay-aux-Roses and on Saturday people can either choose to visit the Louvre or go to Versailles. On Sunday they will be given the opportunity to go shopping.

“If there could be any funding found from businesses who wish to sponsor us it would all be welcomed. We need £4000 to subsidise the trip.

“This trip will help towards re-building links to our French twin town, which has been lost along the way in the last few years. This is very important for the whole community.”

Borehamwood south county councillor Morris Bright has pledged to provide money for the trip from a locality budget fund.

He said: “The association approached me and I’m very happy to support them. An exact amount hasn’t been clarified yet.

“The association has revived itself and it’s a good opportunity for residents to go on this educational trip and to learn about the culture of the town.

“Martine and the association have worked very hard and her enthusiasm to get people involved is great.”

To help subsidise this event or to go along contact 020 8381 5222 or email bettagroup@yahoo.co.uk