Leith charity Saheliya has received £5,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal, helping the project to reach even more women who need their support. Continue reading STV Appeal support for Saheliya
Tag: charity
Crewe Toll company gives local kids a break
Leonardo-Finmeccanica invited local children in for lunch on Friday … and Forth 1 popped in too!
It happened in a flash. Marie Cooper, an employee at Leonardo-Finmeccanica, the electronic engineering company based at Crewe Toll, was walking through the restaurant. She had just left a meeting with Forth One’s Cash for Kids team discussing their fundraising drive, Holiday Hunger, raising money to feed children from the local area who often go hungry during the summer school holidays.
She suddenly thought perhaps we could use our facility and get Cash for Kids to contact local organisations to invite some of the children they support in for lunch one day during the holidays.
Marie approached the business and ISS, who are responsible for our catering, and was given their full support to open the doors on Friday 15 July to feed over 150 young people from the local Edinburgh community who often have to struggle during the summer school holidays with little food at home.
Marie said: “To think that many of these children not only go hungry but can’t invite their friends over during the holidays because the expense is too great is quite heart breaking and hopefully this activity we are planning will give them a bit of a boost.”
But the inspiration didn’t end there. When Marie heard that the machine shop needed to dispose of obsolete machinery, she suggested that perhaps the proceeds of the sale of the equipment to Lapmaster, amounting to £,5,500, could be donated to this very worthwhile Cash for Kids campaign.
Marie said: “The guys were fantastic and they couldn’t do enough to support and thanks to their cooperation we have been able to add this to the £661 which employees have already generously donated and which has now been handed over to Cash for Kids.”
Forth One attended the event on Friday to show their support for the local children and the Leonardo’s fundraising efforts.
Emma Kemp, Charity Manager, Forth One said: “When I learned that the employees at Leonardo had managed to raise over £6,000 it just blew me away. The money is going to make such a difference to improving the quality of life of so many young people who are really struggling right now. The event on its own was going to be an amazing morale booster for them, but to find out that the extra funds have been gathered too is absolutely fantastic.”
Pictured: Fat Brestovca (DJ Forth One), Emma Kemp (Charity Manager – Radio Forth Cash for Kids), Ruaridh Tait (Radio Borders) and Marie Cooper, PA, Leonardo.
Leonardo Finmeccanica
Volunteering opportunities with Move On
Volunteer Mentors Wanted
Would you like to make a positive difference to a young person in need?
Could you help develop the skills and confidence of a vulnerable young person in Edinburgh?
Do you have 2 hours a week to support young people to identify and achieve their goals?
Move On Edinburgh is currently recruiting volunteer mentors for our next training course, and your skills, knowledge and experience are our most valuable resource in engaging some of Edinburgh’s hardest to reach young people.
Our mentoring service matches young people (including those who are; young carers, looked after, accommodated, attending SEBD schools, lacking confidence, socially isolated, offending, engaged in risk taking behaviour, misusing substances etc.) with a volunteer mentor.
The service aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable young people such as increased self-esteem and social confidence, extended social networks and improved employability. The mentors also encourage the young people to focus on employment, training and education opportunities, identifying aspirations, finding out about different options and accessing suitable opportunities.
Our mentors are drawn from all walks of life and we are particularly keen to recruit mentors who have personal experience of the care system or homelessness. Mentors undergo a thorough recruitment, training and induction process, involving taking up references, a mandatory 5 week training course and membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme.
If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please call 0131 558 3740 or email rebecca@moveon.org.uk to request an application pack, or visit our website for more information: http://www.moveon.org.uk/mentoring-3
Make summer savings during school holidays
Ten tips to survive the school holidays on a budget
A local charity has revealed top ten tips to help parents survive the school holidays on a budget. Continue reading Make summer savings during school holidays
Redhall Walled Garden Open Day
SAMH REDHALL WALLED GARDEN OPEN DAY
Redhall Walled Garden is holding its annual community Razzmatazz open day on Saturday 9 July from 12-5pm. All welcome
To summarise what’s on offer :-
- Live Music
- Activities for Children including :-
- Quiz trails
- Traditional Games
- Pond Dipping
- Mask Making
- Face Painting
- Free hand/arm massages by Jo Malone
- Plants for Sale
- Food, Cream Teas
Redhall Walled Garden
97 Lanark Road, Edinburgh EH14 2LZ
0131 443 0946
Garden is open to the public Monday- Friday 9am -3:30pm
To find out more about Redhall see our video on Youtube click on
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VglRmOglZis
or attend our Information day on the first Wednesday of every month – phone to book.
Sainsbury’s says a fond farewell to Meningitis Research Foundation
Time to say goodbye to Charity of the Year 2015/16
Sainsburys Blackhall have been supporting Meningitis Research Foundation for the last year as our store’s Local Charity of the Year (writes Gail Wilson).
It is now time to say goodbye, and colleagues from Blackhall presented a cheque for £12,605.13 to Alison Baker from Meningitis Research Foundation.
We have had a great time supporting and raising funds for MRF and would like to thank all colleagues and customers for their help in reaching our final total. We would also like to wish all at MRF good luck in the future.
Pictured: Gail Wilson, Susan Keiller, Trish Donlevy and Alison Baker
REMEMBER Voting for Sainsbury’s Blackhall Charity of the Year 2016-17 is open now!
Celebrating our magnificent MoonWalkers!
Thousands ‘Swing Their Tartan’ to support cancer charity
Thousands of women and men wearing bras decorated with a “Swing your Tartan” theme Power-Walked through the streets of Edinburgh at midnight, raising money and awareness for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
Among the throng was Walk the Walk Founder and Chief Executive Nina Barough CBE, who appeared on stage before the start of the walk (above).
Wearing decorated bras adorned with all things Scottish – from Highland Coos to Thistles, Saltires to Scottish food, plus of course, lots and lots of tartan – walkers set off from Holyrood Park at Midnight to take on a quarter, half, full or double marathon, raising money and awareness for breast cancer. Before the first step had even been taken, more than £400,000 had been raised.
These amazing people joined in a huge hooley led by rock Ceilidh band Bahookie. Women, men and children from the age of ten upwards showed off their fabulous Scottish costumes – knowing that most of the money raised by The MoonWalk Scotland stays in Scotland to help improve the lives of people with cancer.
Legendary Scottish tartan rocker Alan Longmuir of the Bay City Rollers met a team of fans taking on The MoonWalk – the Boob City Strollers – and offered his support: “The MoonWalk is an amazing thing for people to do. I’ve lost a few very good friends to breast cancer myself and I want to wish good luck to everyone taking part.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “It’s been a magnificent night! We had lots of children taking part in the quarter marathon New Moon and it was great seeing the children getting their medals! All our walkers have done magnificent times and everyone came through smiling and enjoying the experience. We had more people taking part than last year and it’s very special to see people in Scotland uniting together to make a difference.”
More pictures on our Facebook page
Veterans’ artwork showcased at Leonardo’s Crewe Toll HQ
Richard Demarco talks of ‘the healing power of art’
The Edinburgh HQ of electronics company Leonardo is marking this year’s Armed Forces Day (25 June) by hosting a month long exhibition for staff displaying original artwork and poetry created by ex-service men and women supported by the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans, Combat Stress. The official opening of the event took place at Crewe Toll yesterday.
Senior members of the RAF and Richard Demarco, one of the founding fathers of the Edinburgh Festival, opened the exhibition to share their views on the paintings and text produced by the veterans. Artwork will be displayed alongside a ‘textline’ number for mobile donations and a collection box and there are plans to repeat the exhibition in November to mark Armistice Day.
Arts impresario Richard Demarco, Director of the The Demarco European Art Foundation, opened the event with his thoughts on the healing powers of art and how it can be used as a balm to those suffering both mentally and physically. The AOS’s secretary, Sqn Ldr Nobby Clark and OC 603 (City of Edinburgh Squadron) and Sqn Leader Jerry Riley paid tribute to the work of the charity and Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Glen MacDonald (rtd) gave an eloquent description of the process the veterans go through to channel their experiences into art.
Leonardo, previously known as Finmeccanica (and, quite a while back now, Ferranti’s) has provided security equipment to Britain’s armed forces for over 73 years. The exhibition was the brainchild of one of the company’s apprentices, Michael Given, who wanted to find a productive way of supporting veterans, as Combat Stress is the chosen charity of Leonardo’s UK apprentices.
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans, providing free specialist clinical treatment and support to ex-servicemen and women across the UK with mental health conditions. The charity treats conditions including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, and provides a range of free services including short-stay clinical treatment, a specialist PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme, occupational therapy, community support and a free 24-hour Helpline (0800 138 1619).
Sue Freeth, Chief Executive at Combat Stress, said: “Everyone at Combat Stress is incredibly grateful to Leonardo for their support in showcasing our veterans’ artwork.
“The event will raise awareness of Combat Stress and the work we do as the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. We are always working to encourage more veterans to seek our help as we know the difference that our free specialist clinical treatment and support makes.
“We saw a 28% rise in referrals over 2015/16 so fundraising events like this are vital in ensuring that Combat Stress is able to continue supporting veterans in Scotland and across the UK.”
While the event will not be open to the general public, it will be accessible to all Leonardo employees and it’s hoped that it will raise healthy funds for the charity as over 1800 employees are based at the Crewe Toll site.
For more information about Combat Stress’ fundraising events please contact Kath Provan on 01292 561347 or email kath.provan@combatstress.org.uk.
Pictures: Mike Glendinning
Three shortlisted for Sainsbury’s Blackhall Charity of the Year
It is the time of year again to choose the charity of the year for Sainsbury’s Blackhall! As valued customers and colleagues we would love for you to take part in this year’s vote for charity of the year (writes Gail Wilson). Continue reading Three shortlisted for Sainsbury’s Blackhall Charity of the Year
Donate a night to charity: volunteer at MoonWalk
Walk the Walk is calling on the people of Scotland to swing their tartan and get in the community spirit by volunteering at The MoonWalk this weekend (Saturday 11th June).
The charity needs 1,000 amazing Volunteers to help at the event starting at Holyrood Park. The MoonWalk will see thousands of Walkers pounding the pavements through the streets of Edinburgh wearing decorated bras, as they raise money and awareness to help fight breast cancer.
From marshalling and working in the baggage tent, to handing out space blankets and medals – there is a job for everyone! Whether you’ve got a few hours free, or you are able to help throughout the night, every bit of help makes a huge difference to the success of the event.
Derek Macdonald, 54, from Edinburgh, is volunteering in the baggage tent for the fifth year. He said: “The atmosphere at The MoonWalk is one of great joy for everyone involved. Applauding Walkers, making new friends, and sharing stories and experiences – there is a real sense of community spirit. I don’t really think too much about losing one night’s sleep a year – in the grand scheme of things, people that are taking part in the event have often lost a lot more than me. My message to anyone thinking about volunteering at The MoonWalk would be ‘do it!’. Even if it is for a short time, you are so important to the Walkers, who are making a huge difference to people affected by cancer.”
Walk the Walk is celebrating 20 years of Walking the Walk. The charity has granted millions of pounds towards ground-breaking research across the UK and to help those that have cancer in Scotland
Sign up to volunteer by visiting walkthewalk.org or calling 01483 741 430