John Laffey has set himself the gruelling challenge of running 104 miles to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis Society. Alongside his full-time job at Big Yellow Self Storage Edinburgh who are fully behind his efforts, John will be completing three marathons and two half marathons over the next seven months. Continue reading Big Yellow marathon man!
Teams from Edinburgh organisations including EY, Larbert High School and University of Edinburgh Business School took on the heat of Dragons’ Glen, raising £16,026 in 2016/17 and supporting Children 1st, Scotland’s National Children’s Charity. Tthe competition has now raised £358,378 in five years. Continue reading Edinburgh businesses raise over £350,000 for children’s charity
Redhall Walled Garden is holding an Open Day on Saturday 20th May from 12 – 4pm
Trainspotting author, Irvine Welsh launched charity Scottish Love in Action’s Hoof it to Hyderabad Challenge yesterday.
Edinburgh-based SLA’s purpose is to help transform the lives of vulnerable children in India by partnering with and supporting grassroots Indian NGOs that care for and educate children.
Irvine, a long standing ambassador for SLA, kicked off the charity challenge by walking the first mile of SLA’s 5,000 mile target from Scotland to Hyderabad from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace, and he urged walkers, runners and cyclists to register now and Hoof it to Hyderabad this June for SLA.
Participants can virtually walk the 8000km or 12,106,000 steps from Scotland to Hyderabad in India to show the girls supported by SLA that their lives matter: and raise money for the GIRLS’ LIVES MATTER Appeal and you could be lucky and win two return flights to India!
SLA founder and chairwoman Gillie Davidson said: “Many of the children we care for have only managed to survive by scavenging in rubbish tips, or living on the streets where they are open to being trafficked into prostitution or forced labour.
“All the money we raise from challenges like Hoof it to Hyderabad give these children a chance in life and we’d like to thank everyone for this support.”
Visit HOOF IT TO HYDERABAD CHALLENGE to register or find out more.
Can you come to the aid of Homesick Harry?
The Scottish SPCA is seeking a new home for Harry the welsh pony. Continue reading Why the long face?
The Scottish SPCA is encouraging animal lovers to take part in the 2017 Edinburgh Marathon Festival to raise vital funds. Continue reading Animal lovers urged to get active in Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Up to 15,000 people in the Forth Valley area living with cancer could benefit from a brand new Maggie’s Centre which opened yesterday in Larbert. Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk is the principal funder of Maggie’s Forth Valley, through a £3 million grant from funds raised by its iconic night-time fundraising event, The MoonWalk Scotland. Continue reading Thank you, Moonwalkers: new Maggies Centre opens
A Midlothian man is running the London Marathon in aid of the Scottish SPCA to help animals in Scotland. Iain Ross from Midlothian will experience one of the world’s largest running events while supporting Scotland’s unwanted, abandoned and neglected animals on Sunday 23 April. Continue reading Iain to tackle London Marathon for Scottish SPCA
Funding for a charity supporting children with dyslexia is being doubled, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced. Dyslexia Scotland will receive £200,000 funding in 2017/18 to support their work, which includes a helpline, dyslexia assessments and tutoring.
New tools to help teachers address the needs of pupils with dyslexia are also being developed.
The Addressing Dyslexia toolkit has been revised to make it more accessible and easier to use. The free online resource helps teachers support children with dyslexia and literacy issues.
Free online training courses are also being developed to help teachers identify dyslexia early and improve support for pupils as they learn and when preparing to leave school.
Mr Swinney announced the funding at the launch of the refreshed toolkit yesterday, where he met young ambassadors for Dyslexia Scotland and the charity’s president, Sir Jackie Stewart.
Mr Swinney said: “It is vital that young people with dyslexia get the support they need so they can achieve their potential. Today I have met young people who show just how much can be achieved with the right identification and support. But we also know there is more to be done.
“That is why we are doubling the funding we provide to Dyslexia Scotland, to support their work in improving opportunities and supporting children and their families.
“To help children get the right start in life, teachers must be properly equipped to identify dyslexia early and provide the right support, which is why we have refreshed our Addressing Dyslexia toolkit, and created new online training tools.”
Sir Jackie Stewart (above) said: “I cannot emphasise how important it is for all teachers – and I mean all teachers – to use this free, comprehensive and informative Toolkit.
“For the sake of the 10-15% of children and young people with dyslexia in Scotland, my hope is that teachers, schools and local authorities actively promote this invaluable guidance and the accompanying online training. My sincere thanks go to the expert working group that has made this possible.
“My own experience at school scarred me for life due to the ignorance of my teacher – and we know that there are still too many young people not being identified and supported today. Therefore, I am delighted and very grateful that the Scottish Government has supported this initiative and that the Deputy First Minister has today announced that the funding to Dyslexia Scotland will be doubled next year.”
The Addressing Dyslexia toolkit was first launched in 2010.
The first of three online training modules – entitled ‘Introduction to dyslexia and inclusive practice’ – has been developed. It will be available on the Addressing Dyslexia, Open University and Dyslexia Scotland websites and through Education Scotland’s digital sites.
