Tag: cash for kids

St James Quarter announces partnership with two city charities

St James Quarter is proud to announce its partnership with two Edinburgh charities, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Deaf Action. Through the partnership, St James Quarter aims to raise over £100,000 in the next 12 months, improving the lives of disadvantaged children or those who are deaf or hard of hearing in the local community.  

Over the next year, St James Quarter aims to raise the equivalent of 1p per visitor to The Quarter through a host of staff and guest initiatives.

Through the partnership with Deaf Action, St James Quarter is committed to becoming the world’s first cultural and lifestyle hub which is fully inclusive and accessible to deaf visitors.

There are 75,000 deaf and hard of hearing people living within 1 hour of St James Quarter, so together, the partnership aims to raise deaf awareness, celebrate deaf culture, and equip those at St James Quarter with the skills they need to offer a truly welcoming and inclusive experience for all.

Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids is a local charity based in Edinburgh. Everything raised locally, stays locally. The partnership with St James Quarter will help to raise vital funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the local Edinburgh community who are affected by poverty, illness, neglect and additional needs.

The collaboration comes at a crucial stage for Cash For Kids who have supported over 10,000 local families who have been hardest-hit by the pandemic by providing the basic essentials such as food, toiletries, clothing and electricity.

Nick Peel, Managing Director for St James Quarter, said: “St James Quarter sits at the heart of the Edinburgh community, and we distil this ethos through everything we do.

“We’ve been truly inspired by the incredible work Deaf Action and Cash For Kids do and we’re really proud to play our part in supporting them over the next 12 months.”

Victoria Hendry, Charity manager at Radio Forth Cash for Kids, said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen as a charity partner of St James Quarter. Being a local charity supporting children and young people right on our doorstep, we’re so passionate about creating strong partnerships with local brands and with St James Quarter being such a staple destination in the city we couldn’t think of a better fit.

“We are really looking forward to working with them over the coming months on innovative and creative events and campaigns to enable us to support events more local children in and around Edinburgh.”

Philip Gerrard, CEO of Deaf Action, said: “Deaf Action is honoured to be one of the first official charity partners for St James Quarter for the year ahead. With 1 in 5 people in Scotland being affected by hearing loss, this is an amazing opportunity to raise the profile of deafness across the country.

“As we work with the team at St James Quarter to improve accessibility, we can help them become the UK’s first fully inclusive lifestyle hub where the deaf community feel welcome.”

Thorntons Solicitors launch charity will campaign this month

Cash for Kids is expected to receive a five figure sum again this year from Thorntons Solicitors as the beneficiary of the firm’s Charity Wills Campaign.

Taking place across its offices in Fife, Dundee, Perth, Angus, Edinburgh and (for the first time in the campaign’s history) Glasgow, Thorntons won’t charge a fee for Wills written throughout September. Instead, the firm asks clients to make a fee equivalent donation to Cash for Kids.

Murray Etherington, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts and Succession at Thorntons, said: “If you take part in our Charity Wills Campaign this September, you’ll not only be looking after your own future, but helping the most disadvantaged children in your area receive access to essential and life-changing funds.

“People may assume that they don’t need a Will. But if you own property, have savings, are responsible for children or other dependents, then you should put one in place. It’s also important keep any existing Wills up to date, and we have created an easy, eight step guide to lead customers throughout the process. During the campaign clients can make their Will from the comfort and safety of their homes with consultations taking place virtually.”

Now in its 25th year, Thorntons’ Charity Wills Month has raised more than half a million pounds for Cash for Kids since it launched, supporting local children and organisations within the communities Thorntons operates. In 2020, Thorntons’ first virtual campaign raised £60,000 for the charity.

The suggested donation is £200 for a single Will and £250 for a couple making Wills together. Donations will go to the Cash for Kids fund closest to where the client lives, meaning children in their local area will directly benefit from any money raised.

Victoria Hendry, Cash For Kids Radio Forth Charity Manager, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Thorntons again on their Charity Wills initiative. To say this campaign has been a success over the years would be an understatement.

“Through Thorntons’ innovation, commitment and hard work – along with the generosity of their clients-  this campaign goes from strength to strength and supports more local children every year.

“When the pandemic hit, we wondered if Thorntons would be able to run this campaign. However, moving Charity Wills to virtual appointments worked brilliantly and we are so glad to be involved in this way again in 2021. We really are so delighted to be the beneficiary of this wonderful campaign and we cannot thank the team at Thorntons and their clients enough for their support.

“We have managed to help thousands of local children live a happier and fuller life thanks to Charity Wills month. We can’t wait to see it grow even more this year.”

Sign up to Cash for Kids

Cash for Kids Day is nearly here!

Donate or sign up to be part of Cash for Kids Day on Friday 14th May and 100% will help us give children in our community a brighter future.

We’ll be making a difference to children from birth to 18 who are unwell, living with a disability, in poverty or those who simply need a little extra support.

Get involved at work, school or as yourself in any way you like. Dance, dress wacky or sing, the possibilities are endless! Start fundraising today and we’ll give you an online fundraising page and a free fundraising pack full of ideas and useful materials.

We’re also running our 5K a Day fitness challenge! See how the Boogie in the Morning team are getting on and find a friend to sponsor here.

Visit the website to find out more about who we’re helping, donate and sign up.

Children’s charity gets cash boost from local housebuilder

A children’s charity aimed at helping disabled and disadvantaged children has been given a £1,000 cash boost by a Bathgate-based housebuilder as part of its year-long initiative to support local communities.

Radio Forth Cash for Kids, which supports children that have special needs, are disabled, have life limiting illnesses or have been abused or neglected, received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes East Scotland.

Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity that receives requests from individuals and children’s organisations within the broadcast area of Radio Forth.  All money raised is distributed in Edinburgh the Lothians, Fife and east central Scotland. 

Nationally Cash for Kids raised £19.2 million last year enabling support for 396,639 children.  

The funding provides elements of specialist care and a variety of day-to-day necessities such as food, toiletries and data cards to help keep children connected for schooling.

Victoria Hendry at Radio Forth, said: “We are delighted that Persimmon Homes East Scotland has chosen to support us as we rely entirely on donations. 

“The pandemic has devasted families across Scotland and we currently have 45 applications outstanding to help children with specialised wheelchairs, bereavement support, speech therapy so we are approaching businesses for help across our broadcast area.

“This donation will help us to continue to offer support and develop new services for young people.  We are so grateful.”

The donation comes as part of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions project which donates up to £1,000 to two local groups and charities in each of its 30 regions.

Neil Parry, managing director at Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said the community initiative is a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company works.

He said: “We want our Community Champions project to help as many people as possible and we felt the work that Radio Forth Cash for Kids is perfectly placed to achieve this, particularly under the current circumstances. 

“We are building on a number of new sites in and around Edinburgh and are very pleased to support this extremely worthy cause that does so much to help children in the community.”

Persimmon Homes East Scotland is currently developing a range of new two, three and four-bedroom homes at The Willows at The Wisp, Kings Cove and Lang Loan in Edinburgh along with Burgh Gate in Musselburgh.

For more information visit www.persimmonhomes.com

Scots cyclist Josh Quigley supports return of the Tour de Forth

Record-breaking Scottish cyclist Josh Quigley has thrown his support behind plans for the return of the Tour de Forth sportive, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19.

The annual event has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, including its main beneficiary Cash for Kids, with both elite and amateur cyclists taking on the challenge of a 97.3km sportive across the East of Scotland.

Organisers are now hoping that restrictions will be eased enough for this year’s event to go ahead on Sunday 6th June. More than 130 riders are already automatically signed up after agreeing to carry over their plans from last year. If restrictions are eased in the coming weeks, new applications will be opened. 

Ahead of the planned event, Josh is backing plans to encourage cyclists of all ages and abilities to take part in a ‘virtual Tour de Forth’ – raising funds for charity as well as improving their fitness levels and mental health.

A series of online challenges are already underway, including an 800km total distance challenge for beginners – the equivalent of cycling from Edinburgh to Brighton!

For Livingston-born Josh, cycling became a passion that helped him tackle his own mental health challenges. The 28-year-old decided to make the sport his full-time occupation and last year he shaved six minutes off the North Coast 500 world record, completing the 516-mile route in just 31 hours and 19 minutes.

Josh, who’s currently recovering after a cycling accident in Dubai, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be involved with Tour De Forth and it’s a huge honour for me to be an ambassador of this event.

“I am really passionate about the sport of cycling and its potential to change and transform lives. I know firsthand the benefits of cycling as it’s something that helped me overcome mental health issues and achieve things on the bike that I never dreamed would be possible.

“When I started cycling a few years ago, I would have been one of the last people to finish an event like this. But since then I have gone on to cycle around the world and break records on the bike. This is what was possible through hard work, dedication and having the courage to step outside my comfort zone and do things that made me uncomfortable.

“I believe that the Tour De Forth is a great opportunity for people to take on a challenge that will push them to go further than they have been before whilst having fun in a positive and supportive team environment” 

In 2019, the Tour de Forth race featured more than 800 riders, taking part in the traditional 97.3km route and a shorter 44km ‘nouveau’ route. The event has become a major fixture in the Scottish cycling calendar with individuals and businesses from across the country taking part.

Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids works in partnership with the organisers, with donations helping the charity to support young people throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, disadvantaged through poverty, sickness or disability.

Charity Manager, Victoria Hendry, said: “The Tour de Forth has become a huge part of the cycling calendar in Edinburgh and the commitment and passion from both amateur and elite cyclists has been incredibly inspiring.

“In 2019, we raised more than £21,000 for Cash for Kids bringing the total fundraising from the Tour de Forth event to over £200,000. I’m continually amazed by how committed everyone is. It’s a challenging event, but the support people show to each other and the sense of fun on the day is amazing.

“While we’re not yet in a position to open applications for 2021’s event, we’re all working tirelessly behind the scenes and crossing our fingers, hoping it can go ahead.

“In the meantime, I’d urge cyclists, either new or established to cycling and people looking to work on their lockdown-fitness to sign up to our virtual event via the Tour de Forth website.

In exchange for a £100 donation to Cash for Kids or raising £100 through your own fundraising efforts you can take part in online cycles and a variety of individual challenges. It’s a great way to get back to fitness, as well as helping to make a real difference to the lives of young people in the region at an incredibly difficult time.”

Tour de Forth Chairman, Neil Davidson, said: “I am delighted Josh has agreed to join as ambassador for Tour de Forth. Josh has excelled with his attempts at various world cycling records, especially when he completed the North Coast 500 in just over 31 hours. 

“It takes lots of training, preparation, and a real determination to achieve that kind of record and I hope his inspiration will help a lot of our participants in both the Virtual challenge and to complete the Tour de Forth event on Sunday 6th June.”

To take part in the Virtual Tour de Forth, and sign-up for updates on the 2021 race plans, head to:

http://www.tourdeforth.com/

Forth Ports add ‘sparkle’ to Cash for Kids campaign with 2k boost

Staff at Forth Ports have provided a vital cash boost to this year’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign in Edinburgh.

The company was scheduled to become a co-sponsor at this year’s Cash for Kids Sparkle ball, but the cancellation of the event due to COVID-19 restrictions, failed to stop team members from digging deep for young people in need of support.

The company has handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Charity Manager Victoria Hendry as a ‘pre-pledge’. Meanwhile, staff at Forth Ports bases in Leith, Rosyth and Grangemouth have already raised more than £400 through their own Just Giving page and are promising to raise even more and help as many children as possible throughout December. 

Cathy Ilett, Learning and Development Manager at Forth Ports, said: “We’re delighted that Forth Ports has the opportunity to continue to contribute to Cash for Kids and support children and young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limited illness and those who have additional needs. 

“We know that our pre-pledge will go directly into having a positive impact in their  lives and our community. We take pride in our role within the community and our people fully embrace the opportunity to participate in fundraising throughout the year, but especially at Christmas.”

In addition to fundraising, staff members from Forth Ports have volunteered to assist with the herculean effort of collecting and sorting the thousands of gifts that have started arriving at Mission Christmas HQ in Edinburgh’s Gyle Shopping Centre. 

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids, said: “Last year, through a combination of gift drop-offs and cash donations, more than £1.1 million worth of toys were handed out in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland, helping a staggering 25,386 children.

“COVID-19 really hampered our fundraising drives throughout 2020 and we were worried Mission Christmas might not be able to go ahead. Thankfully, its all systems go, with a raft of additional safety measures in place.

“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this if it wasn’t for the support of volunteers and businesses like Forth Ports. In addition to offering an amazing initial donation, they’re helping us with the huge operational task of ensuring no child in  the region wakes up on Christmas Day without a gift. We’re eternally grateful to them.” 

Radio Forth launches Mission Christmas 2020 appeal

Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal has formally launched, despite the ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A team of charity workers and volunteers are working behind the scenes to ensure no child in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, go without a present this Christmas.

Last year, through a combination of gift drop-offs and cash donations, more than £1.1 million worth of toys were handed out, helping 25,386 children in the region.

This year, a reduced number of donation points are available at leading retailers throughout the east of Scotland. Anyone who wants to help, but is unable to visit a physical drop-off point can donate via the Radio Forth Cash for Kids website.

At the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas HQ in Edinburgh’s Gyle Shopping Centre,  a raft of new measures have been adopted, including innovative fogging machines and a larger site, aimed at creating Covid-secure conditions and helping as many young people as possible.

Emma Kemp, Regional Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids, said: “This year has been overwhelmingly challenging for Cash for Kids as we try to continue helping families throughout the region, while ensuring that our team members and volunteers remain safe.

“But, despite the obstacles, we’ve been absolutely determined to continue with Mission Christmas. The impact Coronavirus has had on vulnerable families has been profound, so our 2020 appeal is arguably more important than ever before.

“It’s been amazing seeing everyone pull together and come up with innovative solutions to ensure that – once again – every child in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk wakes up to a present on Christmas Day.

“We’d urge everyone to do their bit, either through gift drop-offs or cash donations, and let’s end 2020 on a positive note.”

The campaign may have only just launched, but business leaders have already stepped forward to offer their assistance. One of the first is Edinburgh-based Saltire Roofing & Building, who have donated £500 to the campaign.

Saltire Roofing Managing Director, Steven McIntosh, said: “Saltire Roofing & Building proudly  supports Cash for Kids Mission Christmas every year, and we’re first to donate to the appeal this year because we know how much it matters. COVID-19 has impacted on all our lives and delivering this year’s Mission Christmas will prove a significant challenge.

“Thousands of local children will still be wishing to wake up to a present from Santa, and we cannot let them down. If you can donate, please do so now, and together we can bring some happiness to the children who need it most this Christmas.”

Sorting affairs virtually

Thorntons Charity Wills Campaign goes virtual for 2020

Cash for Kids is set to receive a considerable five figure sum once again this year from Thorntons Solicitors as the beneficiary of the firm’s Charity Wills Campaign.

Taking place across its offices in Fife, Dundee, Perth, Angus and Edinburgh, Thorntons won’t charge a fee for Wills written throughout November. Instead the firm asks clients to make a fee equivalent donation to Cash for Kids.

Now in its 24th year, Thorntons Charity Wills Month has raised more than £450,000 for Cash for Kids since it launched, supporting local children and organisations within the communities Thorntons operates.

Murray Etherington, Partner at Thorntons, said: “Charity Wills will take place completely virtually this year, which is a first for the firm, but we’ve seen first-hand the success of providing clients with legal advice and services securely and remotely in recent months. Our personal care and attention to detail is never compromised and, for many clients, it is more efficient.

“We wanted to continue to support Cash for Kids given the challenge they and other charities are facing because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This campaign has gathered great momentum over the years and we’re delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause and hopefully raise another milestone total for Cash for Kids.”

Emma Kemp, Regional Charity Manager for Cash for Kids said:  “We are so proud to partner with Thorntons again for Charity Wills month this November. 

“Every year we are entirely grateful to Thorntons and their clients for their continued support.  Over the years this campaign has raised a phenomenal amount of money for our local children and I have every belief this year will be exactly the same, allowing us to support local kids who are most in need.”

For more details of Thorntons Charity Wills, visit: 

www.thorntons-law.co.uk/charitywills.

Cash for Kids receives £75,000 donation

A law firm’s annual charity campaign has reached a record milestone as Thorntons raises £75,000 for Cash for Kids through its Charity Wills initiative – a £13,000 increase on the previous year.

Now in its 23rd year, Thorntons’ Charity Wills month takes place across its offices in Fife, Dundee, Perth, Angus and 2019 marked the first year for Edinburgh’s involvement. To date the campaign has raised more than £450,000 for Cash for Kids.

The initiative ran throughout the month of September and for any Wills written during this time, the firm did not charge a fee – instead clients were asked to make an equivalent donation to Cash for Kids.

Morna Coutts, Partner at Thorntons in Edinburgh, said: “Creating and updating a Will should be a consideration for adults in Scotland especially if you own valuable assets such as property or have young children. We’ve been delighted with the generosity of clients who took this opportunity to put their affairs in order and support local causes at the same time.

“Thorntons Charity Wills is a fantastic initiative which has grown in momentum every year, at the Edinburgh office, we were delighted to be involved for the first time. The recent campaign marks a milestone fundraising total for the firm. The beneficiaries linked with Cash for Kids allow us to support groups and individuals within the communities in which our offices are situated.”

The money raised through Thorntons’ Charity Wills Campaign supported several local causes in Edinburgh including the purchase of specialist equipment for children with autism and a hydrotherapy pool for children with cerebral palsy.

Victoria Hendry, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids Charity Manager, said: “The success of the Charity Wills campaign has been incredible. The impact that the results have from this campaign to children’s lives across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & Falkirk is just amazing.

“Both of the teams at the Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh offices commitment to the campaign is wonderful and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of the staff members there. The boost from the Edinburgh office involvement this year has raised a phenomenal amount of money that we are now able to grant out to those who need it most, living in our local communities.

“The support of Thorntons clients is overwhelming. The team at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids would like to extend their thanks to the clients and staff of Thorntons for supporting the charity and making such a difference to children living right on our doorstep.”

Radio Forth’s Mission Christmas raises £1.2 million

RADIO FORTH breakfast presenters Boogie and Arlene have announced that an amazing £1.2Million has been raised to help disadvantaged children in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk this Christmas season. Continue reading Radio Forth’s Mission Christmas raises £1.2 million