Since January this year there has been a 38% increase on the previous year of women seeking help from Edinburgh Women’s Aid due to experiencing domestic abuse.
At the same time, the longer-term impact of the pandemic has made accommodating families in shared homes more challenging. Fear of infection, lack of personal space and the impact of lockdown on children have prompted Edinburgh Women’s Aid to review their current shared accommodation options within the city.
Edinburgh Women’s Aid approached Harbour Homes who are providing up to four two-bedroom flats to be used as emergency accommodation. Those living in the flats leased to Edinburgh Women’s Aid will receive weekly support and a safe and furnished home.
Heather Kiteley, Chief Executive at Harbour Homes said:“In 2022-23, 90% of recorded domestic abuse incidents in Scotland took place inside the home.
“We care deeply about the work Edinburgh Women’s Aid are doing to provide support and refuge to women and children affected by domestic abuse. We extend our support to Edinburgh Women’s Aid and will do all we can to assist those living in the emergency accommodation we provide.”
Karen Griffiths, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Edinburgh Women’s Aid said:“We are incredibly thankful to Harbour Homes for their support in leasing this emergency accommodation to us.
“The flats will provide a safe and stable environment for women and any accompanying children who are at risk of homelessness because of Domestic Abuse, whilst they are supported by Edinburgh Women’s Aid to recover.”
• Last year Childline delivered almost 8,200 counselling sessions to children and young people from Scotland
• In more than 700 of these sessions the young person said that Childline was the first place they had shared their concerns
• Almost all these counselling sessions were conducted online – 59% via 1-2-1 chat and 41% via email.
• The NSPCC calls on the public to play their part for children by getting involved in Childhood Day.
The NSPCC’s Childline service delivered nearly 8,200 counselling sessions last year to children and young people from Scotland, with poor mental health, difficulty with family relationships and friendship issues some of the top concerns.
As the charity prepared for its third annual Childhood Day on Friday (June 7th) it issued a rallying call for families to come together to celebrate childhood by signing-up or joining in on one of the many fundraising activities taking place around the country.
In 2023/24 Childline delivered 8,190 counselling sessions to children and young people from Scotland dealing with a range of worries. Almost all these counselling sessions were conducted online – 59% via 1-2-1 chat and 41% via email – highlighting the changing way in which the service is now provided.
In more than 700 sessions the young person said Childline was the first place they had talked about their concern, reinforcing how vital the service continues to be for children.
The new data released by the NSPCC gives an indicator of the issues and problems facing children and young people in 2024. It also highlights the need for children and parents to find fun ways to spend time together and have conversations about what is taking place in their lives.
Childhood Day brings people together across the UK, Jersey and the Channel Islands to celebrate the joys of being a child, while also encouraging people to play their part to help keep children safe.
This year, for the first time ever, we are held a Childline Sports Day in Glasgow’s Golden Jubilee Hotel. This fun-filled event saw 13 teams battle against each other in physical and cerebral activities to win the coveted Sports Day trophy.
There were lots of fun interactive moments, with live linkups from the other Childline sports day events taking place in Manchester and London, to bring everyone together, and a silent auction, donations, raffle, BBQ, drinks and live entertainment.
While children from Festival Park Day Nursery in Lorne Street, Glasgow, visited Kinning Park Care Home residents on Childhood Day on Friday (June 7) for a day of “intergenerational connection” to show the benefits of interaction between young and old, such as children learning from their elders as well as helping to improve the residents’ mental health. The day includde story time, nursery rhymes and games.
Anne Marie Vernel, Depute Head of Festival Park Day Nursery, said: “The children have been building up relationships with the residents over the past few months and thoroughly enjoy visiting the care home. The children also welcomed the residents into the nursery last month and they were very excited about the visit.
“It’s lovely to see the two generations meet and share stories. History is brought to life when the children hear about what life was like for them when they were growing up, and I’m sure the residents areinterested to hear about childhood experiences today as well.”
People can also get involved by volunteering at a Childhood Day collection, taking on the charity’s Childhood Day Mile or donating directly – including at cash donation points in Lidl GB stores. Additionally, on 7th and 8th June Lidl GB donated £1 to the NSPCC for every customer that spends £10, scans the Lidl Plus app and submits their donation.
Collections took place before the Taylor Swift concert at Murrayfield stadium tram station and at Aberdeen beach Asda yesterday (Saturday).
Further collections will take place across Scotland over the coming days: at Central train station, Glasgow, on Thursday, June 13, at Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow, on June, 14 and 21, at the Foo Fighters concert in Glasgow outside Hampden Park stadium on Monday, June 17 and in Glasgow City Centre on Friday, June 7 with the Rock choir.
All the funds raised from Childhood Day will go towards ensuring the NSPCC can continue to deliver services like Childline to those children who need support and feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Childline often hears from young people about how much the service means to them and positively impacts their lives.
One young person aged 14* from Scotland told Childline: “I want to say thank you so much Childline, you’ve really helped me. I know I can come back anytime for reminders on helping my mental health, or check the website, it’s so good!”
Rebecca Wilcox, President of Childline, said: “As a mother, as well as the President of Childline and a volunteer for the service, I believe it’s incredibly important for young people to have a safe space where they can discuss anything that might be troubling them.
“Childline will always be here for every young person, no matter the nature or size of their concern.”
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: “Every day Childline continues to be a safe port for hundreds of children struggling with a widening range of issues and concerns.
“Events like Childhood Day play an essential part in providing the support we need to keep Childline running day and night for young people, some of whom have nowhere else to turn.
“As well as raising vital funds for the NSPCC Childhood Day also encourages children and families to celebrate childhood.
“This is why we are calling on communities, schools and families to take part in fun activities, such as the Childhood Day Mile – where they can hop, skip or jump a mile.”
Lidl GB is sponsoring the NSPCC’s Childhood Day for a third year as retail sponsor. Lidl GB has been partnered with the NSPCC for 7 years, raising over £9 million for the charity in this time.
It is currently supporting young people with their mental health by raising money for Childline. Lidl GB will be helping to raise awareness of Childhood Day, as well as holding its own events and activities with colleagues and customers across Great Britain to help raise vital funds.
Also sponsoring this year’s Childline Sports Day is O2. O2 connects millions of families across the UK and is committed to helping keep children and young people safe when gaming, studying and connecting with friends online.
As part of its sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, the company is working to improve the digital skills and confidence of six million people by the end of 2025.
Homebuilder’s team in Edinburgh supports Alzheimer Scotland with fitness challenge
Miller Homes Scotland East is supporting Alzheimer Scotland with a donation of £10,595 following recent fundraising efforts that saw the homebuilder’s Edinburgh team complete a month-long step count challenge, alongside other colleagues in the East of Scotland.
For each mile a Scotland East employee stepped during the challenge, Miller Homes pledged to donate £1 to Alzheimer Scotland, resulting in thousands raised for Scotland’s dementia charity.
Making a real difference to the lives of people living in and around the communities Miller Homes is building in, this challenge allowed employees in Edinburgh to stay fit through a variety of exercise methods, from hill walking and running, to taking part in basketball, netball and football games.
Neil Gaffney, Sales Director for Miller Homes Scotland East, is exceptionally proud of the fundraising efforts from the Edinburgh team. He said: “The team members from our head office and West Craigs Manor development in Edinburgh certainly know how to accept a challenge and this charity fundraiser was no different.
“Each employee took this incentive in their stride, quite literally, raising a staggering total for Alzheimer Scotland, a charity we know is close to so many of our employees’ hearts.
“Not only have we been able to provide a cash boost for a great cause, we’ve also been able to encourage our employees in Edinburgh to come together through exercise and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”
Tom Pavey, Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator for Alzheimer Scotland said: “We are delighted to receive this very generous donation from Miller Homes, the support from its employees throughout this partnership has been extraordinary.
“Alzheimer Scotland depends on fundraising and every penny raised will help us to continue to fund our vital network of Dementia Advisors, Dementia Centres and 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline, that all provide critical support for people living with dementia and those who care for them.
“This donation from Miller Homes helps us to Prevent Today, Care Now and Cure Tomorrow.”
For more information on Alzheimer Scotland, visit www.alzscot.org/.
To find out more about Miller Homes’ community work, visit:
Geraldine McFaul, who travelled 2,000 miles on foot from Glasgow to Rome, is taking part in the charity’s From Dalmally To Malawi challenge in June
A woman who took on an epic walking challenge in 2023 is urging people in the UK to join school feeding charity Mary’s Meals’ active challenge, From Dalmally To Malawi, this June.
Last year, Geraldine McFaul, 55, walked all the way from her home in Glasgow to Rome, travelling 2,000 miles on foot in six months. During her amazing adventure, she raised more than £7,500 for Mary’s Meals. To top off Geraldine’s extraordinary journey, she even met The Pope on her arrival to Rome!
Mary’s Meals feeds more than 2.4 million children in 17 countries across the world. The promise of a daily school meal encourages desperately poor children into the classroom where an education is the key to their dreams of a brighter future.
Geraldine says: “Last summer I walked to Rome and met The Pope, now I’m ‘walking’ to Malawi for charity!
“I’ll really be walking around my local area, but our cumulative miles will equal the 7,000 miles from Dalmally to Malawi. Mary’s Meals is an incredible charity and I’m so pleased to support them again this year.
“I’d love for you to join me in June because you can easily turn your miles into meals for hungry little ones!
“The key thing to an active challenge is not to worry about how fast or far you’re going because every step adds up. It’s an amazing sense of achievement when you reach your goal and I can’t wait to share that feeling with you all!”
By signing up to the challenge, participants will take part in a virtual journey from Dalmally, the village in the Highlands of Scotland where Mary’s Meals was founded, to Malawi, where the charity served its first life-changing school meals.
Participants can take part in From Dalmally To Malawi in any way they choose, whether walking, running, swimming or cycling. The money raised through sponsorship from family and friends will help to feed hungry children living in the world’s poorest countries.
Dan McNally, Head of Grassroots Engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “We were all so inspired by Geraldine’s walk to Rome last summer and I hope that she can inspire you to take on From Dalmally To Malawi this June.
It only costs £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a school year – that’s 10p a meal – so any amount of money you can raise makes a real difference to the children we feed!”
By taking part, people can change the lives of children like Lapukeni from Malawi.
She says: “I like eating phala (porridge) here at school because it gives me freedom from hunger and worries. I am confident that I will work extra hard in class because of the peace of mind that I get from Mary’s Meals.”
To sign up for From Dalmally To Malawi, please visit:
Tesco has again joined forces with its suppliers of well-known household brands such as Andrex, Aquafresh, Bodyform, Radox, Sure and Wilkinson Sword to help distribute millions of personal care items to people who are in need.
From now until 11th June, for every two purchases by Tesco customers from a selection of essential hygiene products, its suppliers will donate a third hygiene item directly to charity, In Kind Direct.
Last autumn, Tesco teamed up with its suppliers to address rising levels of need and over two million products have already been donated as part of the campaign.
Participating in the campaign again is Unilever, Essity, Haleon, Kimberly-Clark and they are joined by a new partner, Edgewell.
These products will be distributed by In Kind Direct, who works with thousands of charities, community groups, foodbanks, and schools across the UK to get much needed hygiene products into the hands of people who need them.
Recent research commissioned by Essity in partnership with Tesco and In Kind Direct has illustrated how people are currently experiencing hygiene poverty.
Families are often impacted, and this survey revealed that 10% of Edinburgers in households with dependents have gone without hygiene products such as shampoo or deodorant.
The survey also found that in Edinburgh, those who have struggled to buy hygiene products during the last year have had to borrow from friends or family (43%), use free products in public areas (43%) or received items from a charity (14%).
Rosanne Gray, CEO at In Kind Direct, said: “Many people experiencing hygiene poverty face the impossible decision to heat, eat or keep clean on a daily basis, and unfortunately more and more people are being pushed into this position.
“We know hygiene poverty disproportionately affects those already struggling, but the research shows that financial difficulties are now impacting everyone.
“The ripple effect impacts mental health, workplace productivity and school attendance – it’s something that requires collective action which is why we’ve formed this partnership with Tesco and some of our committed corporate partners to help reduce hygiene poverty in the UK.”
Thomas Maier, Category Buying Manager for Beauty and Personal Care at Tesco, added: “This new research highlights how the number of families being impacted by hygiene poverty has grown in recent years.
“That is why the work done by In Kind Direct to help people is so important and we are really pleased to be working again with our suppliers to provide hygiene products where they are needed most.”
The campaign is running in Tesco superstores across the United Kingdom until Tuesday 11th June.
Big News from St. Ninian’s Parish Church, Corstorphine!
St. Ninian’s Parish Church has been recognised in the House of Commons for their outstanding fundraising efforts benefiting St Columba’s Hospice Care.
Since the start of their annual coffee morning back in 2000, their incredible community has rallied together to raise over £50,000!
This year alone, their event raised an impressive £3,703.98!
A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to everyone who contributed, volunteered, and supported this event.
Special recognition goes to Margaret and Jim for their tireless efforts in making this event such a success year after year. Your commitment is truly inspiring!
William Oviatt is running the Edinburgh Marathon to raise money for Sight Scotland to say thank you for all the help and support the charity gave to his family when his daughter, Sofie, was diagnosed with retinal dystrophy.
William and his wife Debbi, both from Edinburgh, realised something was seriously wrong with Sofie’s vision when she was just six months old. Sofie had a noticeable wobble in her eyes and was struggling to track objects at baby classes.
Several months later Sofie was diagnosed with retinal dystrophy, a group of genetic eye conditions that affect the light sensitive cells in the retina. It is incredibly rare in children and something she will have for life.
William, who is head of Business Development, and Income Generation at the Thistle Foundation, explains: “Discovering that your child has visual impairment is heartbreaking and can cause a whirlwind of emotions, and we are just so thankful we had Sight Scotland there to help and support us.
“On Sunday 26th May, I’ll be running twenty-six miles in the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for Sight Scotland and to support children like Sofie who are visually impaired, blind or suffer from sight loss.”
William says the first appointment with the consultant, when it was confirmed that Sofie had vision impairment, was devastating.
He says: “The first appointment with the consultant was heartbreaking, as we were told the devastating news that Sofie has visual impairment and that there was nothing they could do, as no treatment would help Sofie’s eyes.
“For Sofie to be given this lifechanging news at such an early age was extremely hard to take. It was such an emotional, confusing time, Sofie was just a typical, happy, baby so it was difficult to comprehend why this was happening to her.
“But after that we were just left to it, we had been given the information by the doctors but were offered no help of what we should do next. Sofie was just your typical, happy, baby so we couldn’t understand why this was happening to her. So we reached out to various charities to try and build relationships and get a better understanding of what we were facing and what we could do to help Sofie.
“Sight Scotland has been amazing; the charity has a real community and family feel. The emotional support has been just so important, just having someone to talk to, who understands what we are going through, has been invaluable.
“We are in a club that we didn’t want to be in, but we are now so proud to be in it. Whether it is signposting, listening, supporting or the policy group giving us a voice, they are always there to answer our questions and fill in the gaps. There is no way we would feel so strong if it wasn’t for Sight Scotland.
“This is why I am running to raise money for Sight Scotland, as the support they have given to Sofie, and to Debbi and myself, has been life changing, and I can’t thank them enough and want to give something back.”
LifeCare Edinburgh has been awarded a significant funding boost of over £75,000 from the ScottishPower Foundation. The funding will go towards its vital Help at Home and Meals on Wheels services, enabling the charity to reach over 200 local older people living on a low income with free support.
Twenty charities across England, Scotland and Wales have been awarded funding totalling almost £1.2 million for projects tackling a range of issues, from cost-of-living support, to promoting diversity and inclusion and raising awareness of the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises.
Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare said: “The funding from The ScottishPower Foundation will make a significant difference to the lives of hundreds of local older people.
“At LifeCare, we believe everyone should be enabled to thrive in their own home and be active within their community. Over 75% of the people we help live alone and without LifeCare, many older people would be left critically isolated.
“Our services help people to keep well in both body and mind; delivering fresh, hot and nutritious meals to doorsteps with a smile and a chat, providing help with practical tasks when things are getting more difficult to manage, and offering companionship activities to keep people connected.
“With a rapidly growing older population we are struggling to cope with demand for care coupled with the rising costs of service delivery. None of our services are fully funded and we rely on our fundraising to sustain our life-affirming services.
“Thanks to this support we will be enabled to offer our meals on wheels service for free to those that need it and open our Help at Home service for free for those on low incomes for the first time. We are all extremely grateful.”
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Projects like LifeCare’s free Help at Home and Meals on Wheels services are a prime example of how the ScottishPower Foundation’s support is helping to create a better future.
“With this year’s projects providing vital support set to aid vulnerable people, communities, and natural ecosystems across the nation, it’s important for us to recognise and boost the incredible work of these charities.”
For more information about LifeCare’s services and activities visit:
Allied Mobility, the leading supplier of wheelchair accessible vehicles in the UK, is proud to announce the funding of two key initiatives aimed at increasing accessibility to water sports for individuals with disabilities.
Donations have been made to Inclusive Surfing Scotland and the Disabled Sailors Association as part of our ongoing commitment to move people and make a difference in their lives.
Inclusive Surfing Scotland, a newly established charity, has been awarded £2,335 from Allied Mobility’s charitable arm, The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, to cover half of the cost of a specially adapted seated tandem surfboard, with the Weir Charitable Trust also funding half.
This funding will enable the charity to provide unique surfing experiences to individuals with complex needs, including wheelchair users and those with sensory impairments. The surfboard, a key piece of equipment for their operations, will be used at the beaches of East Lothian, the Borders, and Fife starting around May/June 2024.
Ian Donaldson from Inclusive Surfing Scotland expressed his gratitude, stating, “We at Inclusive Surfing Scotland are absolutely delighted to have been awarded £2,335 by the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust.
“We are a new charity, and Allied Mobility have shown amazing belief in our mission to make surfing accessible to everyone. The award will contribute towards a bespoke seated tandem surfboard, with an attached bucket seat, that will allow surfers with complex needs to ride the waves.”
The Disabled Sailors Association received £1,500, which will fund sailing experiences for 20 individuals in 2024.
This contribution will support the Association’s wide range of activities, including tailored sailing days and competitive events, designed specifically to cater to sailors with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities and those requiring wheelchair access.
Susan Simmons of The Disabled Sailors Association remarked on the impact of this funding, saying, “Over the past 30 years, the Disabled Sailors Association has provided active sailing for people with all types of disabilities, no matter how complex their needs, together with their family and carers, in our specially adapted fleet of boats.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, 20 people will enjoy the improvements to their mental health, happiness and confidence, that the exhilarating sport of sailing creates.”
David Facenna, Director at Allied Mobility, said: “We are immensely proud to support these fantastic initiatives that align perfectly with our values of inclusion and accessibility.
“It’s essential that everyone has the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of sports like surfing and sailing.
“These activities are not just sports; they are powerful platforms for improving mental health, personal confidence, and social interaction. We look forward to seeing the joy and freedom these projects bring to participants.”
Edinburgh–based Kevin White, who works as a Compliance Officer for Scotmid, is taking on a ten-race challenge to raise money for the RNLI, Scotmid’s charity partner for 2024.
The 38-year-old grew up in the coastal area of South Queensferry, so has always recognised the vital role the RNLI plays in saving lives at sea. Having worked at Scotmid for 23 years, supporting numerous good causes through group fundraising events, this will be his first individual fundraising challenge for a charity partner.
Kevin has already completed – and enjoyed – the Supernova Kelpies in March and is most looking forward to the Scottish Half Marathon in August.
Kevin White, Scotmid Compliance Officer, said: “I am incredibly proud to be supporting such an important charity for communities around the UK.
“My father and grandfather were keen runners, but I only took up running during lockdown, so this challenge is a great opportunity to follow in their footsteps. I am loving the challenge but not sure if my legs will agree by the end of the year!”
Kirsty Connell, Membership & Community Manager (East) at Scotmid, said: “We are immensely proud of Kevin and his achievements in this challenge so far.
“Through our partnership with the RNLI, we hope to raise enough funds to purchase a new Atlantic 85 Lifeboat. It’s great to see our colleagues contributing through individual and team challenges. Good luck Kevin!”
Through the partnership, Scotmid is fundraising to purchase an Atlantic 85 lifeboat for the RNLI which will serve in the reserve fleet for when lifeboats across the UK are undergoing maintenance. The Atlantic 85 is one of the fastest in the RNLI’s fleet. The boat has the capacity to carry four crew members as well as core medical and rescue equipment.
Big News from St. Ninian’s Parish Church, Corstorphine! 
