Over £1.5 million has been granted to children’s charities across Scotland through the STV Children’s Appeal since the coronavirus crisis began, it was announced today.
Tag: STV Appeal
Edinburgh charities featured in special STV Children’s Appeal programming
STV has announced a line-up of programmes highlighting the work carried out by the STV Children’s Appeal and fundraisers around the country to support children and young people across Scotland. Continue reading Edinburgh charities featured in special STV Children’s Appeal programming
Edinburgh Napier: Mark Beaumont coach gets on her bike for charity
Edinburgh Napier academic to take part in ‘Around the World in a Day’ challenge for STV Appeal
An Edinburgh Napier Sport Science academic who helped prepare Mark Beaumont to cycle around the world is getting ready to undertake her own mammoth cycling challenge.
In the lead up to the challenge last year, Edinburgh Napier’s Dr Lesley Ingram worked extensively with the record-breaking cyclist to get him in the shape of his life as he geared up to cycling the 18,000-mile route in just 78 days, 14hours & 40mins.
From completing VO2 max tests to undertaking sessions in the University’s environmental chamber, which mimicked various high temperatures that Mark would face throughout this challenge, Lesley’s work ensured that Mark left no stone unturned in his quest to reach peak physical condition prior to leaving.
And now, Lesley will join Mark and 79 other cyclists as they aim to collectively cycle the same distance that Mark completed in his own challenge – in just one day.
In support of this year’s STV Children’s Appeal, the ‘Around the World in a Day’ challenge will see the cyclists aim to cover an arduous 240 mile route from near Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute to Aberdeen in just 16 hours.
Taking place on 22 September, the intrepid group’s route will see them undertake nearly 3,000 metres worth of climbing as it takes them around the Trossachs National Park and Ben More, before heading through Crieff, Forfar, Brechin before finishing at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park.
The challenge aims to raise £80,000 for the STV Children’s Appeal. The STV Children’s Appeal was launched in 2011 as a response to statistics showing that one in four children and young people in Scotland live in poverty, with over 220,000 affected. In just seven years, the appeal has managed to raise more than £16.3million for a range of worthy causes across the country.
For Lesley, the challenge will see her enter unchartered territory as she swaps her laboratory for her bike to cycle the furthest distance she has ever undertaken.
She said: “I used to be a semi-professional mountain biker and I’ve always cycled in my life but I’ve never ever done anything on this scale before. This is an unknown for me – I’ve never cycled 240 miles. It is daunting but I’m really looking forward to it!
“Our challenge aims to mimic what Mark did in his own Around the World challenge. Our cycling will be broken down into four-hour blocks with 30-minute breaks in between. We are looking to do the 240 miles in around 16 hours at an average speed of 15mph – it is going to be tough!
“I’ve been enjoying my training rides at weekends and back home to Fife after work. Obviously, as a sport scientist, I’m a firm believer that fitness is a must have but for something like this you also need a robust mental strength. I’m fully prepared for the ups and downs the day will bring but I can’t wait to get started and to play my part in raising funds for such a worthwhile cause.”
Lesley’s sponsorship page can be found here. More information on her work with Mark Beaumont as he prepared for his Around the World in 80 Days challenge can be found here.
Cabbies share a toast to support breakfast campaign
Taxi drivers from Edinburgh and Glasgow joined forces for a breakfast cuppa recently to raise awareness of the Big Scottish Breakfast, an STV Children’s Appeal fundraising event to support children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland. Continue reading Cabbies share a toast to support breakfast campaign
Music to their ears: STV Appeal cash for Comas’ Childhood Counts
Community project Comas has received £48,031 from the STV Children’s Appeal, boosting support for the anti-poverty initiative. Continue reading Music to their ears: STV Appeal cash for Comas’ Childhood Counts
Two grand for Granton!
STV Appeal supports Granton Youth Centre
Granton Youth Centre has received £2,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal to boost financial support for the local project. The grant will support GYC’s Big Obstacle event. Continue reading Two grand for Granton!
Feniks receives £2000 from STV Children’s Appeal
Edinburgh community project Feniks has received £2,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal. Continue reading Feniks receives £2000 from STV Children’s Appeal
Lorraine gies it laldy for STV Children’s Appeal!
Lorraine Kelly will be taking to the dance floor in aid of the STV Children’s Appeal this September, as she dons her kilt for a 24 hour ceilidh extravaganza!
After the success of last year’s Shimmy across Scotland which raised £100,000 for the Appeal, the ceilidh challenge will see Lorraine ‘do-si-do-ing’ her way around the country with the support of her friend Maxine Jones and sponsor Optical Express to raise money for children living in poverty across Scotland.
From the Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow to the Pride of Erin Waltz, Lorraine will be getting Scotland moving with 24 hours of ceilidh dancing. Working alongside the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society (RSCDS), Lorraine will be encouraging groups not only in Scotland, but also internationally, to host their own ceilidh events on the 11th-12th September to help Scotland’s young people.
Lorraine Kelly, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “Last year I took on a 24 hour shimmy for the Appeal and this year I’ll be putting my dancing shoes back on. Over 24 hours I’ll be challenging myself by taking on a series of ceilidhs to raise money for children and young people in Scotland affected by poverty. Maxine and I will be travelling across Scotland in September and also encouraging other groups across the globe to join us and host their own fundraising ceilidhs to help raise as much as possible for this vital cause. It’ll be a challenge to keep going but hopefully with support from fellow dancers around the world, I’ll get through.”
Lorraine’s 24 hour ceilidh will be captured by STV’s cameras for the STV Children’s Appeal programme to be broadcast later this year.
Elizabeth Partyka of the STV Children’s Appeal said: “We are thrilled Lorraine will be embarking on another exciting fundraising challenge this year. With support from local communities, the RSCDS and sponsor Optical Express, we are sure Lorraine’s 24 hour ceilidh will help make a real difference to the lives of children and young people affected by poverty.”
To mark the occasion, the RSCDS have devised a bespoke ceilidh dance for Lorraine – Kelly’s Kaper, with a video and dance instructions available for individuals and groups who want to participate!
Elizabeth Foster, Executive Officer of the RSCDS said: “We are delighted to partner STV Children’s Appeal for 2015. We are pleased to be associated with this worthwhile cause and to play our part in helping to raise money for disadvantaged children and young people in Scotland. In many ways this follows on from the successful Commonwealth Ceilidh in 2014 which saw thousands of people around the globe taking part in one massive ceilidh. With some 14,000 RSCDS members worldwide we expect the STV Children’s Appeal to resonate far beyond Scotland.”
Optical Express will be supporting Lorraine Kelly’s Ceilidh Challenge.
David Moulsdale, Chairman and Chief Executive of Optical Express, said: “We are extremely proud to be increasing the support we provide to the STV Children’s Appeal. Being part of the STV Children’s Appeal is very important to Optical Express. We’ve been involved with the Appeal since it launched back in 2011 because we passionately believe that tackling child poverty in Scotland will help to ensure that young people have the best possible opportunities while growing up.
“We can’t wait to see Lorraine dance her way across the country and we look forward to undertaking our own fundraising challenges throughout our network of Optical Express clinics in Scotland.”
If you’re an individual or group that would like to get involved with Lorraine Kelly’s Ceilidhs in aid of the STV Children’s Appeal and help raise funds for children and young people living in poverty in Scotland, please get in touch with Ami Anderson on ami.anderson@stv.tv.
To support Lorraine’s fundraising challenge and make a donation to the STV Children’s Appeal, visit Lorraine’s JustGiving page on: justgiving.com/KellysCeilidh2015
STV Appeal cash for Young Carers
Edinburgh Young Carers Project receives £2,000 from STV Appeal 2014.
Edinburgh Young Carers Project (EYCP) was established in 1994 and is the main provider of services to assist young carers to cope with the stress and complexities of their family situation. The project aims to increase awareness of young carers and ensure they get support through EYCP, schools or in their local communities.
EYCP supports around 150 young carers annually between the ages of five and 20. The project aims to improve the quality of life of a young carer through helping them maintain a balance between the responsibilities of being a carer and their own needs for time and space for their own personal development through their childhood and adolescence.
The STV Appeal is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country, 220,000 children live in poverty and figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that in Edinburgh it’s actually 21.1% of children – more than one in five. Edinburgh Young Carers is one of the projects the STV Appeal is supporting in Edinburgh.
Margaret Murphy, CEO of Edinburgh Young Carers, said: “Young carers often give up a lot through taking on roles and responsibilities caring for a family member and we seek to provide them with understanding, time off and a chance to be the children they are to develop their social skills and to have fun.
“The generous donation from the STV Appeal will be used to support the 1:1 work EYCP provides for young carers who have difficult caring situations, or who are experiencing a particularly difficult period in their lives. We have found that providing this individual support makes a big difference in helping them to cope.”
Since launch in 2011, the STV Appeal has raised over £8.2 million with 297 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 37,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.
Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The money donated to the STV Appeal remains in Scotland and will help bring about a positive change to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep. With the help of the extraordinary fundraising efforts taking place in communities across the country we have raised an incredible £2.6m in 2014 allowing us to make grants to 297 projects. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported this year’s Appeal.”
The STV Appeal 2015 is now well underway with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned for the year ahead.
STV Appeal supports Fresh Start
North Edinburgh based community project Fresh Start has received £2,000 from the STV Appeal 2014.
Based on Ferry Road Drive, Fresh Start is an Edinburgh charity that helps people who have been homeless by providing starter packs of essential household items. For many people who have been homeless and have lost everything, the packs provide a real lifeline in the early days of a new tenancy. Last year the charity created 10,973 packs to help over 2000 new households, helping to make a huge difference to the quality of people’s lives in their new home. The grant from the STV Appeal will be used to help Fresh Start increase the number of packs it produces and delivers in 2015.
Keith Robertson, managing director at Fresh Start, said: “These packs help to relieve the financial burden and initial stress that many new tenants face, especially when providing for households with children.”
Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “Yet again the people of Scotland have cast their vote – end child poverty. Through the STV Appeal we are attempting to deliver sustainable solutions to do just that. It is simply unacceptable in modern Scotland to still have young people debilitated by poverty, through this project and many more the people of Scotland are doing their level best to combat poverty.”
This year’s STV Appeal is now well underway with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned for 2015.