Tag: charity

Marie Curie charity cancels all collections

Terminal illness charity, Marie Curie, has announced that all of its upcoming public collections in Edinburgh and West Lothian, and across the UK as part of its biggest annual appeal will be cancelled due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. 

The Great Daffodil Appeal, which runs throughout March, sees hundreds of volunteer collectors hitting high streets and supermarkets to hand out the charity’s iconic daffodil pins in exchange for donations.

                                                                                                                                                       The money raised from the Great Daffodil Appeal helps Marie Curie provide much-needed expert care to people with terminal illnesses, as well as support for their loved ones, helping them to make the most of the time they have together.

The appeal also helps the charity provide practical information and support, fund research and campaigns for more people to have access to high quality, personalised care wherever and whenever they need it.

With over 2,200 collections across the country cancelled with immediate effect, Marie Curie has estimated that it will lose £1 million from these vital collections alone – with further losses coming from many other cancelled fundraising activities and events. This will impact the charity’s work, which is going to be more important than ever over the coming months as the NHS focuses on the coronavirus.

In light of this, the charity is urgently asking people to get involved in the appeal via other ways to help its nurses, it’s hospice in Edinburgh and the West Lothian Community Palliative Care Service at St John’s Hospital to care for more people including donating online (mariecurie.org.uk/donate) or via text-to-donate (text DAFF to 70111 to donate £5*). 

Meredith Niles, Executive Director of Fundraising and Engagement at Marie Curie, said: “It is with great disappointment that we have decided to cancel all of our Great Daffodil Appeal public collections due to COVID-19 as well as a number of other fundraising events that were due to take place over the coming weeks and months – a decision which has not been taken lightly. 

“The health and safety of our dedicated volunteers and staff is of utmost importance. We are extremely grateful to the thousands of people who signed up to collect for us, without whom the Great Daffodil Appeal would not exist.

“Where possible, we hope to be able to re-schedule collections and events for later in the year, and would like to thank all our volunteers, supporters, corporate partners and staff for their ongoing support at this challenging time.”

If you, or someone you know, is affected by a terminal illness and concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19), our Support Line team are ready to help with the information you need when you need it.

Call free 0800 090 2309. You can also find more information on our website: mariecurie.org.uk/coronavirus

Sailors’ Society suspends port activity

International maritime charity Sailors’ Society is offering virtual chaplaincy to seafarers as it suspends its port activities in response to the coronavirus. 

The charity, which operates in 90 ports around the world including Southampton, Portbury and Avonmouth, Leith, Tilbury, Invergordon, Dundee and Montrose, Greenock and South Wales, is pausing port activities for an initial period of two weeks, in the light of the increased spread of the virus and the World Health Organization (WHO) activating an international state of emergency.

Chaplains will instead be available online using social media and digital technology to provide advice, support and arrange practical help for crews. The charity is sharing mental health advice for seafarers and is setting up a special Facebook group for seafarers concerned about the impact of the virus on their health and livelihoods. 

Sailors’ Society’s COO Sandra Welch said: “Our chaplains usually meet 1,000 seafarers a day in ports across the globe. As this crisis has unfolded, we have been closely following health advice in the ports where we operate and offering virtual chaplaincy to quarantined seafarers. 

“This suspension is last thing we want to be doing – especially today, Sailors’ Society’s 202nd birthday. But we need to put the health of our staff and the crews we serve first.

“If you are a seafarer struggling at this time, you are not alone. We know this is a particularly distressing and unsettling time for many of you and we are still very much here for you, even if we can’t be with you physically.

“In the past two centuries, we have supported seafarers through many crises, including two world wars. Our dedicated and driven chaplaincy team will do whatever it takes to support you through this crisis today.

“You can reach our chaplains via our website and we hope our new Facebook group will become a place where you can share encouragement and advice with one other too.”

A special coronavirus section of the Sailors’ Society website can be accessed at https://www.sailors-society.org/coronavirus, with health information, advice for seafarers on how to manage their mental health in light of the pandemic and contact details for chaplains and the new Facebook group.

Dare you do the DARED Challenge?

A unique fundraising challenge event designed by school staff to support vulnerable children across Edinburgh and the Lothians is back for 2020.

A fundraising event that inspires school staff and individuals from across Edinburgh and the Lothians to lace up their running shoes in support of a leading children’s charity is back for 2020.

The DARED Challenge – Do A Run Every Day – encourages participants to complete either a 1 mile or 5km run every day throughout the month of June in support of West Pilton-based charity, Circle.

Devised in 2018 by Broughton High maths teacher, and keen runner, Mark Fletcher, the DARED Challenge has continued to grow and last year saw more than 150 school staff from across Edinburgh and further afield raise more than £14,000 for the charity.

This year, as well as again looking to school staff from across the region to support the event, Mark and his organising team are appealing for members of the public to get involved. Circle’s patrons, David Tennant and Arabella Weir, will be joining the campaign to recruit participants in the coming months.

David Tennant’s previous video statement can be seen here.

Alongside the fundraising element, the aim of the challenge is to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of daily exercise, as well as spending time with colleagues away from the desk and work. The choice of different distances enables both experienced and beginner runners to feel included and challenged.

Although the premise of the event was built on getting school staff and teachers exercising regularly, organiser Mark hopes that the health benefits that arise as a result of this type of challenge will inspire anyone – not just teachers – to get involved.

He said: “Incorporating exercise into our daily lives has countless benefits to our physical and mental health. If we can do this while raising money for an extremely deserving cause, everyone’s a winner.”

Funds raised through the DARED Challenge will go directly to supporting Circle in its aim of improving the lives of children by strengthening families. The charity works at the heart of deprived communities across central Scotland, supporting the most disadvantaged children and families to improve their lives, promote their healthy development and reach their potential.

Participation in the DARED Challenge will help strengthen the charity’s family outreach work, help children and their families communicate, repair relationships and develop skills that enable them to lead more fulfilling lives.

Social inequality and poverty lead to some of the many reasons that a family may need the support of Circle including alcohol and substance misuse, imprisonment and young or lone parenting.

Many of the pupils in participating schools from previous DARED Challenges are supported by Circle.

Mark Kennedy, Chief Executive of Circle, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who is taking part in The DARED Challenge as their dedication, passion and enthusiasm will directly enable Circle to continue our vital work supporting vulnerable children and families in Edinburgh and beyond.”

Early bird entry for the DARED Challenge is now open with participants able to choose to run one mile or 5km a day in June. Participation costs £10 per person. Participants are asked to fundraise a minimum of £50. Participants who do not wish to fundraise can pay an additional £20 to secure their position on the challenge.

Full details can be found here. 

Woman who battled breast cancer takes on MoonWalk Scotland

Kirsten Griew, 41, from Portobello, Edinburgh is hoping to inspire people to join her at this year’s MoonWalk Scotland, organised by breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016, Kirsten was treated at The Breast Cancer Institute at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital which has benefitted from several Walk the Walk grants, thanks to money raised through The MoonWalk Scotland.

The grant from Walk the Walk funded the renovation of Ward 6, a new theatre and renovation of the Mammography Unit at the Breast Cancer unit at the Hospital. As well as this, the charity provided a grant for 8 Cold Cap systems, special machines which are helping many people undergoing chemotherapy to retain their hair.

Kirsten said: “The nurses at The Breast Cancer Institute were amazing throughout my treatment and it was there that I first heard about the Cold Caps.

“The idea of losing my hair during chemo was horrible, so it was great to hear that there was a way of potentially keeping all, or some of it, by using the Cold Cap.

“It was at the hospital that I saw a leaflet for The MoonWalk Scotland. I’d heard about the event before and always wanted to take part, but seeing the leaflet and personally benefitting from services that have been funded as a result of people doing The MoonWalk gave me the motivation I needed to sign up.

“The MoonWalk is brilliant fun – it has such a wonderful atmosphere and the feeling as you cross the finish line is indescribable! Fantastic causes benefit from the money raised and help people just like me. I can’t wait to take part again this year!”

Now in its 15th year, The MoonWalk Scotland, has to date raised nearly £22 million. This money is granted towards supporting people living with cancer in Scotland.

The charity is celebrating all things ‘music’ at this year’s MoonWalk on Saturday 6th June –  Walkers could be inspired by pop stars, rock legends, disco divas or musicals, as they decorate their bras to showcase at one of Edinburgh’s most iconic nights.

Setting from Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Walkers can take on one of four challenges at The MoonWalk Scotland; 10K New Moon (open to people aged 10 and over), Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) or Over the Moon (52.4 miles).

Don’t miss The MoonWalk Scotland, Saturday 6th June. Power Walk through the streets of Edinburgh at Midnight wearing a decorated bra, as you raise money and awareness for breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk.

Sign up now: www.walkthewalk.org 

NSPCC Scotland receives boost from Amazon team

Volunteers and staff at NSPCC Scotland received a special delivery when the team from Amazon’s delivery station in Bathgate stopped by with a £1,000 donation. 

The Bathgate team also held a collection at the delivery station and raised a further £1,000 for the charity.

The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse. The charity offers free, confidential advice and support to children and young people through its Childline service, visits primary schools across the country to deliver ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ assemblies and workshops and works directly with families in local communities through its specialist teams.

NSPCC Scotland works specifically with local services and communities and attempts to influence national policy developments and political processes to protect the future of Scotland’s children.

The charity received the donation as part of the ‘Amazon In The Community’ programme, where the company supports the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

The donation will enable NSPCC Scotland to answer 500 more calls to Childline.

To celebrate the donation, members of Amazon’s Bathgate Delivery Station team visited the charity’s Glasgow headquarters.

Amazon’s Bathgate Delivery Station Manager, Scott Cartwright, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support NSPCC Scotland with this donation.

“The charity does such important work in our local area and we wanted to recognise that by offering our support. We had a great time meeting with the team in Glasgow to hear more about their efforts to stop child abuse for good.”

Jen Lindsay, from NSPCC Scotland, said: “On behalf of myself and NSPCC Scotland I want to say a big thank you to Scott and the Amazon team.

“The NSPCC receives 90% of its funding from supporters, so this donation will go a long way to help us make sure we can keep every child who needs us safe. We loved having the team down to meet us and hope that they know what a difference this donation will make in our community.”

Amazon Logistics is helping independent local delivery companies to grow their businesses and adds capacity and flexibility to Amazon’s delivery network to meet increasing customer demand.

Amazon has created more than 75 permanent jobs at the delivery station in Bathgate and works with around 15 independent delivery companies with hundreds of drivers to provide the fast and reliable delivery Amazon customers love and trust. Packages are shipped to the delivery station from Amazon fulfilment and sortation centres and loaded onto vehicles to get delivered to customers. 

Thorntons team with CHAS for Rocking Horse Ball

Thorntons and CHAS are thrilled to announce a brand new partnership that will raise crucial funds to support children with life-shortening conditions and their families throughout Scotland.

Thorntons have generously agreed to be the headline sponsor for the fifth edition of the CHAS Rocking Horse Ball, which takes place on 5 June 2020. The prestigious annual event attracts the great and good from Scottish business and society and has fast become one of the most popular charity dinners in Edinburgh’s social calendar.

Last year it raised an incredible £136,000 to further enable CHAS to provide a full family support service across Scotland for children with life shortening conditions and their families. With the generosity of the team at Thorntons, this year’s ‘Oz’-themed extravaganza promises to be the biggest so far.

Colin Graham, Chairman at Thorntons, said: “The annual CHAS Rocking Horse Ball is a fantastic fundraiser which supports the inspiring work of this charity throughout the year.

“We’re embedded in our local communities and CHAS provides services all over Scotland. We’re proud to pledge our support of the 2020 event which we hope will raise a record total for CHAS.”

CHAS Chief Executive, Rami Okasha, and the team were delighted to welcome Colin and Senior Partner Clare Macpherson to Rachel House hospice to show them where their contributions go and thank them for their support with a special gesture – a handmade pair of ruby slippers – created by three of the incredible children which CHAS supports.

Rami said: “We are thrilled to welcome Thorntons as our headline sponsors for this year’s Rocking Horse Ball. CHAS is a charity on a mission. We want to ensure that we can be there to support children with life shortening conditions and their families wherever they are in Scotland, and whenever they need us.

“The wonderful support from Colin and the team at Thorntons will be a huge support in ensuring we can continue to reach more families.”

In Scotland, nearly 16,000 children and young people live with life-shortening conditions and CHAS is determined to reach every family who needs its services. CHAS works across Scotland, able to provides its hospice services nation-wide for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. CHAS offers palliative, respite and end-of-life care from Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.

The CHAS at Home service supports families with the services of a hospice yet in their own homes across the whole of Scotland. Through its Diana Children’s Nurses working in hospitals across the country they can support families and clinical teams.

Pictured: Clare Macpherson, Rami Okasha, Diane Alton and Colin Graham.

Volunteers needed to bring LOVE back to Gorgie Farm!

The new folk at Gorgie City Farm are seeking volunteers to assist in bringing the popular visitor destination back to life, ahead of the farm opening its doors again to the public as LOVE Gorgie Farm on Saturday 29th February. 

LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable individuals by using innovative ways to engage them in learning, announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in 2019. 

The charity is now looking for volunteers to help prepare the site in time for its official opening date at the end of the month. Activities for the volunteers will consist of organising and tidying up the site to make it presentable and safe for both the public and the animals. 

Volunteer days will take place from 10 am – 3:30 pm over the course of the next two weekends: 15th, 16th and 22nd, 23rd of February. Volunteers do not have to stay the whole day, even an hour would be great. 

After the site opens its doors to the public it will remain open 7 days a week and will be free for visitors. LOVE Learning intends to keep using the site as a city farm as part of their portfolio of environmental projects. 

In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm will procure educational services to vulnerable children through animal and forest therapy.

It will also provide a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as organise social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, said: “We are delighted to have taken responsibility for Gorgie City Farm. LOVE Learning know how treasured and important the site is for the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible. 

“We are asking anyone that might have been involved with Gorgie City Farm in the past, may have a fond childhood memory of the farm or that simply wants to come and give us a hand to contact us ahead of the opening. 

“There is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29th of February and the local community, businesses and volunteers will be key for the farm to thrive and achieve its full potential. 

“After we get the farm up and running on the 29th we will put in place volunteer activities for those looking to continue to be involved with our LOVE Gorgie Farm project going forward.” 

Volunteers are advised to bring lunch and wear old clothes and mud resistant boots!

Anyone looking to volunteer should contact LOVE Learning at

 Gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk

New befriending service for physically disabled young people

We believe young people are the experts in their own lives. We also believe young people can play an active role in our communities.

Ecas has a new service for physically disabled young people ages 18 to 30 living in Edinburgh and Lothian.

We will work with you to identify goals and plans based on your unique circumstances. By meeting at a pace that suits you, we will support you to identify your own solutions, navigate opportunities available, and realise your potential.

How it works:

  • You enquire about the service or make a referral
  • You have an initial meeting with the Outreach Officer so you can get to know more about the service and we can get to know you
  • We will plan together at a pace that works for you
  • We’ll have regular meetings to develop your actions and mark progress
  • You will move on from the service when you’re ready

More detail is available in this overview.

Enquire and make a referral:

  • If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more, please contact our Outreach Officer Megan.
  • If you’re ready to participate or make a referral, please fill out an application form.

Just the ticket!

ScotRail All-Aboard for MND Scotland 

The ScotRail Alliance has announced it will be continuing its journey to a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND), by supporting charity MND Scotland for another two years. 

The partnership, which was set to end in March 2020, has been a huge success, with staff and customers raising £255,000 since 2017, smashing their target of £150,000. 

Going above and beyond for the past three years, funds have been raised through staff fundraising, customer donations and gifts in kind, such as advertising on trains and in stations. 

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided. 

MND Scotland provides vital support to families affected by MND when they need it the most, and fund ground-breaking research into a cure. 

Last month the charity announced a £1.5million investment into the UK’s biggest MND drug trial. Funds raised through the ScotRail Alliance – a partnership between ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland have contributed to this monumental step towards finding a cure for the disease and giving people living with MND hope. 

Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we will be continuing our work with MND Scotland over the next two years.

“MND Scotland is an incredible charity doing extraordinary work right across our country, and the recent drug trials show just how valuable our fundraising efforts can be.

 “I’m really proud of our people and customers who have helped to raise more than £250,000 for this great cause so far, and I’m looking forward to raising even more over the next two years.”

 Iain McWhirter, MND Scotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We are delighted that the ScotRail Alliance are going to be joining us on our journey to a cure for another two years. 

“We have been blown away by the support we have received, from staff jumping out planes and organising coffee mornings, to customers donating across the country, and advertising which has helped raise awareness with commuters throughout Scotland. 

“Thanks to the generosity of supporters like this we have been able to fund the most comprehensive MND drug trial in a generation. This trial will be open to almost every person with MND in Scotland and we hope will lead to finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for MND.”

Genius Brewing donate £10,000 to Doddie charity

Genius Brewing have presented Doddie Weir OBE with £10,000 for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

Genius Brewing are official fundraising partners with the My Name5 Doddie Foundation. The company’s #5p4Dodde pledge donates 5p from every can of their Gen!us Craft Lager.

Genius Brewing’s Jason Clarke said: “Doddie has transformed the profile of MND and raised over £5m to help current and future sufferers. Genius Brewing is proud to support such an inspiring cause.”