Faringdon Town Twinning has been in existence for over 30 years now and anyone can join in. We recently held our New Year meal at Sadlers restaurant, filling it to capacity. French film nights (subtitled) are held several times a year in Faringdon’s Corn Exchange, and also an annual quiz night – the next one is Friday 17 March at the Catholic Church Hall. Everyone is welcome.
Our Youth Exchange is unique and has been run for about 20 years by Faringdon Twinning Association and has two components.
Firstly, from Sunday 16 to Sunday 23 July a group of 10 French children from le Mele sur Sarthe accompanied by two leaders (aged 18-20) visit Faringdon and are accommodated by host families. Activities are planned for the whole week, and they are accompanied by local children where possible (ie. school permitting).
Secondly, from Sunday 23 July to Saturday 29 July a group of Faringdon children (12–16-year-olds) travel to France along with the French children and two UK leaders aged over 18, one of whom needs reasonable French. The children are always in the company of their leaders and at least one adult from the Twinning Committee on daytime activities and hosted in pairs by a French family that is known to the Committee. The French families invariably have good English, so communication is never a problem.
This is a unique opportunity for young people of Faringdon to exchange cultures with young French children in each other’s environments – very different to the usual overseas school trips. Mixing with children from different backgrounds during the organised activities is worthwhile and fosters tolerance by developing a more outward-looking view of life. If you know any children who would be interested in this fun and exciting trip or would like to be leaders (going for free), please email us (see below).
The highlight of the year is the visit to le Mele sur Sarthe, which will be over the Bank Holiday weekend from 25-28 August. The cost of the trip is £150 per adult and £75 for children of school age and includes all travel and your accommodation. An absolute bargain! For more information on our events, join our Facebook group ‘Faringdon Twinning’ or email faringdontwinning@gmail.com, or check out details on our website – just search for Faringdon Twinning.
We look forward to welcoming you to one of our events soon.
