Tag: charity appeal

SNP Leadership contenders asked to commit to Safer Ageing in Scotland


Hourglass (Safer Ageing) calls on the SNP leadership contenders to support safer ageing

Hourglass has asked the three contenders for the Scottish National Party leadership to commit to safer ageing and to support older victim-survivors of abuse.

Older people are at risk of becoming victims of physical, financial, sexual or psychological abuse. Many others suffer abuse due to simple neglect. Older people are much less likely to report abuse and when they do the experience can be traumatic.

At present, insufficient data is collected on abuse of older people in Scotland. This lack of information is one reason this issue does not get the attention or resources it desperately needs.

Hourglass have called on the three leadership contenders Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf to commit to the following actions if they become the Scottish First Minister:

1.            Collecting all relevant data on the abuse of older people.
2.            Develop a safer ageing strategy for Scotland
3.            Host a Safer Ageing forum with Hourglass at Holyrood later this year. 

Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass said: “The Scottish Government need to take action to prevent abuse of older people.

“The first step is to collect the data on reported abuse. The second is to develop a safer ageing strategy which will outline how the Scottish Government intend to tackle this problem. Thirdly, this is an issue that is seldom talked about. We need the Scottish Government to work with us to raise awareness of this issue.

“Hourglass (Safer Ageing) is the only charity in Scotland that specialises in supporting older victims of abuse. We have nearly 30 years of working in Scotland and throughout the UK and Ireland, where we have continued to see an increase in demand for our services.”

George Foulkes, Hourglass Patron said: “We have an ageing population and the next First Minister of Scotland needs to be to take this seriously.

“The Scottish Government need a safer ageing strategy to protect older people from abuse and neglect.”

The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to make a donation by visiting https://wearehourglass.org/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

Save the Children Ukraine Appeal

You can help children living in fear 👉http://save.tc/ZEkM50I81WJ

All children in Ukraine – at least 7.5 million under 18-year-olds – are in danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress and displacement, following the escalation in conflict.

As a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), we’ve joined forces with 14 leading aid charities to help children and families in Ukraine survive war.

Help us reach children by donating to our #Ukraine appeal today.

We’re on the border of Romania and Ukraine giving supplies to children and families in need.

We’re distributing warm clothes and blankets as temperatures plunge below freezing, providing cash and vouchers to help families pay for food, accommodation and medicines, and also offering vital mental health and education support to children whose lives have been torn apart.

You can help us reach more children and keep them safe.

Donate to the @DEC appeal now: http://save.tc/5Spz50I9exV#UkraineAppeal

#UkraineCrisis

#StopTheWarOnChildren

Horseback UK still suffering effects of Storm Arwen

Charity desperately needs help

At the end of November, registered charity HorseBack UK was hit hard by Storm Arwen. Dozens of trees came down around the county pulling powerlines with them, leaving the charity without power, light, heat, hot water, or phone connection for six days.

Founders Emma and Jock Hutchison were cast back into the pre-electric age, in a freezing house, with a herd of thirty-three horses to look after.

Fortunately, the Hutchisons are pretty tough. One was a Royal Marine and the other served in the police force. They tend not to complain. But even Emma, usually one of the most stoical people you could meet, said that her sense of humour was wearing pretty thin.

Storm Arwen could not have come at a worse time. After 18months of pandemic and not being able to deliver the work the charity is known for, it was just getting back on its feet.

Emma, Jock and the team had re-started delivering their life changing courses to veterans and vulnerable young people, especially those suffering with mental health challenges – many of whom had had a particularly tough lockdown.

A huge amount of work had been done on logistics and installing strict safety protocols and, of course, course sizes had been reduced, limiting the number of people the team could work with and help.

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel and the entire team, including the 33 horses were back to doing what they love. Until Storm Arwen roared in and stopped the charity in its tracks once again.

Not only did it pull down power lines it also damaged buildings and in particular field shelters for the horses. With winter here it is imperative the horses have shelter from the cold, wet winds of northern Scotland.

Co-founder Emma Hutchison explained: “After a tough 18 months we were thoroughly enjoying getting back to work, so to be thwarted again really tested our resilience.  The storm has done a lot of damage and we desperately need to repair or replace the field shelters for the horses.

“The herd is pretty tough and can cope with quite a lot but the relentless rain and wind we get can wear them down and have a negative impact on their health. And when it snows, they really do need a place to shelter.

“These horses are part of our family and we are pulling out all the stops to get them the shelter they need as fast as possible. We desperately need donations to help pay for the materials to build and repair the shelters.”

The arrival of Arwen has also shown Emma that storms can take many forms, and that contingencies need to be put in place. 

Emma added: “We realised we need to build a Storm Fund, to keep us going when the unexpected strikes. We get no government or council funding, so we are completely reliant on donations. It is the generosity of the public which enables us to do our work.

“If we could gather a new fund, it would help us to do additional practical things, like build new field shelters for the horses to protect them against wind and weather, and invest in a generator to keep the lights on. But it would also act as a bulwark against unheralded events, like pandemics or shifts in the economy.

“We want to make sure that Horseback UK can rely on the sturdiest foundations. Whatever the literal or metaphorical weather, we need to be able to go on helping veterans with life-changing injuries, as well as the young people we work with in the local community. We want to ensure that our future is stable, however unstable the external world can sometimes seem. And that is our next, dedicated mission.”

To find out more about Horseback UK and to donate to support their work and the rebuilding of the field shelters visit: 

www.horseback.org.uk 

and https://www.justgiving.com/horseback

Charities bracing themselves as nearly one third of Scots say they may need to take on debt to cover the costs of Christmas

Charities bracing themselves as nearly one third of Scots say they may need to take on debt to cover the costs of Christmas

Nearly one third of people in Scotland (29%) may need to take on debt to cover the cost of Christmas this year, according to a survey of 2,000 people carried out by Censuswide for charity The Big Give.

Nearly one quarter of Edinburgh residents (24%) are not looking forward to the holiday season this year, with money worries being the most common reason, the survey also found.

While lower than the national average (16%), a shocking 13% of Scottish residents are worried they may need to use food banks to help them manage this Christmas.

Thankfully, more half of respondents from Scotland plan to donate the same amount to charities over the Christmas period. Between rising financial concerns and the ongoing health crisis that is the Covid-19 pandemic, the work done by local charities is more important than ever.

A campaign organised by the Big Give and backed by celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Dame Judi Dench, Russell Brand and others is aiming to help. 

The Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest Christmas coordinated fundraising appeal, is supporting over 900 charities to raise funds with the unique offer of matching any donations made during the week of 30th November – 7th December.

Alex Day, Director of The Big Give said: ‘Our study shows that, sadly, people across Scotland and the rest of the UK are facing an imperfect storm; High fuel prices, chronic mental health problems, rising debt, loneliness and fears about Covid-19 will mean that, for many, this festive period will be a far cry from picture perfect scenes portrayed on Christmas cards.

‘Some will rely on charities which will be further and further stretched as demand grows.’

‘That is why, for those who can, supporting charities is more important than ever. Through The Christmas Challenge campaign, we are offering to match any donation made to hundreds of amazing charities through theBigGive.org.uk. That means whatever you can give will go twice as far.’

Social Bite launches Festival of Kindness

  • Social Bite lights up major cities encouraging kindness this Christmas
  • Charity aims to provide 300,000 gifts, meals and essential items to people experiencing homelessness this Christmas
  • Christmas trees with donation points installed in five cities, Edinburgh London, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, to emphasise that ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind.’

Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness has launched in five cities across the UK today, expanding on last year’s campaign, in a bid to spread some much-needed festive goodwill and kindness.

The charity is asking people in Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to donate meals, gifts, essential items and accommodation to those who need it most this Christmas.

Through the campaign, Social Bite has set a target of providing 300,000 meals and essential items of the winter months to those experiencing homelessness this festive period.

Working alongside local partners, Social Bite has installed five 28ft tall Christmas trees across the country and is asking people to buy one extra gift, drop it under the tree and contribute to a movement of kindness.

Festival of Kindness locations include:

·       St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh

·       Charing Cross Station, London

·       Vinicombe Street, Glasgow

·       Outside M&S at the Bon Accord centre, Aberdeen

·       City Square, Dundee

The charity has created a gift wish list of the things homeless and vulnerable people need the most – from a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, to good quality socks and toys for children  living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning.

Passers-by can drop their gifts at the trees and take in the Christmas lights, meet Santa in Edinburgh and hear more about Social Bite’s ambitions from volunteers. All gifts will then be distributed by Social Bite’s dedicated team to those who need it most, just in time for Christmas.

Social Bite co-founder and Executive Director, Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “This Christmas, many of us will be able to reunite with family and friends to celebrate after so many restrictions.

“But for homeless people and families, the pandemic has made their situation particularly desperate. Thousands of people all over the UK will spend Christmas on the streets – cold, hungry and lonely, without a family to go to. Thousands of children will find themselves in temporary emergency accommodation or without food on the table over the festive period. 

 “That’s why we are building on the success of last year’s campaign to expand our reach even further, going from two to five locations and taking Festival of Kindness to London for the very first time.

 “Our Festival of Kindness campaign aims to spread some festive cheer. In a world, where you can be anything, we’re urging people to be kind and buy or donate a little extra to help those who need it most – even the smallest of gifts will make a huge difference.”

Monetary donations can also be made online via the Social Bite website which will then go towards the provision of food, gifts and essential items.

Donations will also help fund accommodation and support for those sleeping rough in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and London.

Social Bite has a track record of successful fundraising campaigns, having previously hosted ‘Sleep Out’ events in all major Scottish cities, then helped to launch The World’s Big Sleep Out for a global campaign attended by Hollywood A-listers including Dame Helen Mirren and Will Smith in 2019.

Last year’s Festival of Kindness held in Edinburgh and Glasgow raised over £1.5m.

All gifts should be new and unwrapped, with a helpful ‘how-to’ guide on their website.

To find out more or donate, please visit https://festive.social-bite.co.uk/

Lorraine Kelly returns for “extra special” STV Children’s Appeal fundraising show

  • The STV Children’s Appeal 2021 will air on STV at 8:30pm on Friday 29 October
  • Lorraine hosts from performing arts charity CentreStage’s new Kilmarnock HQ
  • The Appeal – which is celebrating its 10th birthday – supports the 1 in 4 children affected by poverty in Scotland

The STV Children’s Appeal has announced that its annual TV fundraising event will return for 2021 on Friday (29 October), with long-term host Lorraine Kelly back at the helm as the charity appeal celebrates its tenth birthday.

Viewers can expect The STV Children’s Appeal 2021 to look a little different from previous shows as, for the first time, it will be hosted at Kilmarnock-based performing arts academy CentreStage – a charity with a close, enduring relationship with the Appeal.

CentreStage’s recent move to new headquarters on the site of the former Kilmarnock Academy “wouldn’t have happened” without the support of the STV Children’s Appeal, according to the charity’s founder, Fiona McKenzie.

Friday’s show will see Lorraine meeting some of the many people who benefit from CentreStage’s activities and discovering why it has proven a lifeline for the local community. The show will also feature a rousing live performance from the 60-strong CentreStage Choir, made up of local people from all backgrounds, circumstances and abilities.

Elsewhere, The STV Children’s Appeal 2021 will put the spotlight on some of the community heroes up and down the country who have raised thousands for the Appeal in its tenth year – with one young musical duo set to receive a huge surprise from Simon Cowell in response to their impressive fundraising work.

BBC Radio 1’s Jordan North will take part in a special edition of Celebrity Catchphrase, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also chats to Lorraine about the importance of the Appeal and why she continues to be “delighted to support it”. 

STV is also set to air a one-off documentary tonight Tuesday 26 October focused on how the Covid pandemic has impacted youth mental health across Scotland. 

Where’s Your Head At? – presented by Andrea Brymer – will share the stories of young people who have been particularly affected by the mental health crisis. Earlier this year, the STV Children’s Appeal distributed £152,000 to charities supporting the mental wellbeing of Scotland’s young people.

Lorraine Kelly said: “This year’s STV Children’s Appeal show is going to be extra special, as we’re broadcasting direct from one of the amazing charities that the Appeal has supported over the last 10 years.

“Being in the heart of a community that really benefits from the unwavering generosity of the Scottish people year after year makes the show even more authentic, and reminds us all why the work of the Appeal to tackle child poverty continues to be so important 10 years on.”

Paul Mathieson, CentreStage CEO, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome the STV Children’s Appeal to CentreStage and to host this year’s show. Our long-standing relationship with the Appeal has allowed us to provide significant support and opportunities to so many children and families across our local communities.

“On behalf of the full team at CentreStage, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved.”

The STV Children’s Appeal 2021 airs on STV at 8:30pm on Friday 29 October. Viewers can donate £10 to the STV Children’s Appeal by texting TEN to 70607 (standard network rates apply).

Letters: World Porridge Day and Mary’s Meals

Dear Editor

It’s World Porridge Day on 10 October – and while for some this might conjure up images of Goldilocks and The Three Bears, or those famous old porridge adverts, there’s also a more important meaning to this day, one that can, quite literally, change lives.

Mary’s Meals feeds more than two million children in 19 countries around the world every school day. In the countries where the charity works, including Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, children are normally served steaming mugs of porridge, known locally as likuni phala, enriched with vitamins to help them learn and grow.

Providing a daily meal in a place of education is helping even the most vulnerable children to attend school and concentrate in lessons, giving them the freedom to learn and fulfil their potential. And the average global cost to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year is just £15.90.

Your readers can learn more about the work of this charity, and how a mug of porridge is helping to transform young lives, at marysmeals.org.uk

Sophie Thompson,

British actor and former winner of Celebrity MasterChef

Letters: Support Mary’s Meals and Make a Difference

Dear Editor,

I’d like to make your readers aware of a unique opportunity to make a big difference to the lives of hungry children in the world’s poorest countries this summer.

For anyone who becomes a monthly giver to global school feeding charity Mary’s Meals before the end of August, their first three donations will be tripled, meaning the impact of their regular gifts will go even further.

This is thanks to a group of generous supporters who are making funds available up to £100,000 for tripling donations from new regular givers for a limited period.

Your readers can help Mary’s Meals to access all the available funds by setting up a monthly Direct Debit by 31 August here. (marysmeals.org.uk/tripled).

Mary’s Meals feeds more than 1.8 million hungry children in 19 countries every school day.

This funding boost will bring fresh hope to families struggling amidst the continuing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit the world’s poorest countries especially hard, and will also help Mary’s Meals in its goal to reach two million children with a nutritious meal every school day.

I am proud to support Mary’s Meals and hope that this summer your readers can take advantage of this incredible opportunity to see their kindness go three times as far.

MARK BEAUMONT, 

Long-distance cyclist, broadcaster and author.

RCEM launches public appeal to support A&E staff facing stress and burnout

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is launching a public appeal  to support the mental health and wellbeing of A&E staff after data show that many have struggled with burnout, distress, and other psychological conditions resulting from the stress of the pandemic, further to the continued pressures of their day-to-day work in Emergency Departments.

The NHS entered the pandemic underfunded, under-resourced and understaffed. This meant the severe demands of the ensuing pandemic were faced by the existing but understaffed workforce.

The shortage of health care workers has meant these existing staff have been continually pushed to their limits and beyond. And throughout the pandemic these health care workers have been physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged. Staff have been working with little or no respite in challenging conditions while facing ever increasing pressures.

The Health and Social Care Committee report “Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care” cites data from NHS Providers that show 92% of trusts raised “concerns about staff wellbeing, stress and burnout following the pandemic”.

A study published in January 2021 found that nearly half of frontline doctors, including those working in Emergency Medicine, suffered psychological distress during the first wave of the pandemic with others suffering from trauma, PTSD and other psychological conditions.

A study from 2019 found that working as an emergency physician is one of the most fatiguing and stress-inducing professions, a result of regularly working shifts longer than 12-hours, struggling to find work-life balance, and burnout. This was recorded prior to the pandemic, during which the pressures on Emergency Medicine staff significantly increased.

Dr John Heyworth, Consultant in Emergency Medicine in Southampton and Chair of RCEM Fundraising, said: “We know that many Emergency Medicine staff are exhausted and facing burnout.

“After 15 months of this pandemic, with waves of Covid causing intense pressures on our overstretched emergency departments, and now a return to high pre-pandemic levels of hospital activity, added to the stress of the threat of a further wave of covid – this is not surprising. But it is deeply worrying.

“We must do all we can to protect and support our frontline Emergency Department staff. Their hard work and dedication throughout this extremely challenging time has been incredible. As ever, they have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic risking their personal health and dedicating themselves to the care of others.

“The public have shown their remarkable support and respect for the health service. And now, we want to appeal to them to support our A&E staff who work 24/7 in Emergency Departments, ready to treat anyone who seeks care.

“When we know that our Emergency Medicine workforce is struggling with exhaustion, burnout, stress and other psychological conditions then we must take action, and they deserve our support.

“RCEM’s Public Mental Health and Wellbeing Appeal aims to raise money to develop and expand the support services offered to A&E staff who may be struggling with mental health conditions including PTSD, stress, burnout and exhaustion.

“The support offered will be guided and dictated by what A&E staff need most so that we can help them in the best way possible.

“RCEM’s goal is to ensure the services and support provided have a positive and lasting impact on the mental health and wellbeing of our frontline A&E workers.”

RCEM Appeal:

 https://www.rcem.ac.uk/RCEM/Get_Involved/Wellbeing_Appeal.aspx

Donate here:

http://www.rcem.ac.uk/RCEM/Get_Involved/Sign_in_for_donations.aspx?f=SPRW

PDSA passes 500,000 remote appointment milestone

PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has carried out a remarkable 500,000 phone appointments since the start of lockdown, as demand for the charity’s services has surged due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the charity – which provides free and low cost vet care to the pets of owners who are suffering from financial hardship – introduced a new phone appointment system back in March during the first lockdown.

Since then, the scheme has meant over half a million remote appointments have been provided to poorly pets and their owners, ensuring they could still receive the vital veterinary advice they needed, despite lockdown restrictions. 

PDSA Vet, Paul Manktelow, said: “Sadly, even during a pandemic, our pets can still become sick or get injured and need urgent veterinary treatment.

“When the first lockdown started looming, it was clear that we needed to drastically adapt the way we worked across our 48 Pet Hospitals around the UK to help keep everyone safe and help stop the spread of Covid-19, while still providing support to desperate pet owners seeking our help.

“Providing remote consults has allowed pets to access the essential veterinary care they need, while freeing up the space and time needed in our pet hospitals to treat the sickest pets and emergencies in a socially distant manner..

“Thanks to kind support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we were able to quickly develop new ways of working, allowing many of our dedicated vets and nurses to work from home providing vital pet advice remotely.

“Leading into the first lockdown we started offering our first remote consultations. Within weeks we were delivering around 2,000 phone appointments daily, which has now risen to over 2,300 a day.”

Remote consultations have enabled PDSA staff to help all but the most serious cases over the phone, offering advice, and posting out or delivering essential medications. This ensured the charity could keep their vet teams, owners and pets safe while continuing to provide life-saving emergency treatments at its Pet Hospitals.

Hazel Johnstone, Longterm Partnerships Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Pets have been a lifeline for so many people during the lockdowns this year – providing companionship and helping improve mental wellbeing for owners during incredibly difficult times. 

“So for those who face financial hardship causing increased worry when a pet falls ill during the pandemic, it’s vital they’re able to continue to access veterinary care. By supporting the development of these remote consults for PDSA, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have ensured that hundreds of thousands of pet owners always have somewhere to turn, even during the darkest of times.”

But PDSA is now facing a double threat – the pandemic has resulted in PDSA’s income decreasing by £3m a month in 2020 due to all fundraising events being cancelled and its charity shops temporarily closing their doors.

This is coupled with an expected increase in unprecedented demand for its services as many more pet owners fall on hard times.

PDSA Vet Paul Manktelow continued: “Delivering half a million remote appointments in eight months just shows what vital assistance PDSA provides for a huge number of pet owners. For many, we are their only emergency service – a safety net when times are tough, but we rely entirely on generous public support to keep our charitable veterinary services running.

“As we enter what is likely to be a challenging winter, we know many people are facing extremely difficult times through no fault of their own, and their pets are a lifeline, providing unconditional love and comfort during these worrying times. We greatly appreciate every donation, to help us to continue to be there for much-loved pets in need.”

To find out more about PDSA, its Pet Care Crisis Emergency Appeal and how you can help, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/whywematter