Churches charity Bethany Visiting Support has launched a free new drop-in advice service at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
Call in on Fridays from 12 – 2pm – no appointment necessary.
Tag: charity
CAP to open debt help centre in Comely Bank
Debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is launching its third Edinburgh debt help centre in Comely Bank next month.
CAP has partnered with St. Stephen’s Comely Bank Church (above) to extend its award-winning free service to those in need across the city. It joins two other busy centres at Central Church and Holy Trinity Wester Hailes, and brings the total number of CAP centres in Scotland to 22.
Manager of the new Edinburgh centre Claire Baggaley said: “The Church has always been about offering hope and we’re really pleased to be able to give more people a tried-and-tested route out of debt alongside other great free debt agencies in the area.”
“There is a lot in the Bible about looking after the poorest. In our society, a lot of poverty is debt-related so our congregation at St. Stephen’s Comely Bank Church has been working hard to open a CAP centre to help get people back on track.”
CAP offers a uniquely in-depth, caring service to people with spiralling personal debt regardless of their age, gender, faith or background. Every client is visited in their own home; the charity does all the negotiating with creditors and local volunteers offer support to each person face-to-face until the day they are debt free.
Statistics show that one in three callers seeking debt help are feeling suicidal but find huge relief through the non-judgemental service that treats every person as an individual.
The new service will be launched at St Stephen’s on Comely Bank Road on Thurday 10 September.
For debt help call 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org
Smalls for All founder is Point of Light
An Edinburgh woman who collected more than 100,000 pairs of pants for vulnerable women and children in Africa has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Maria Macnamara, who now lives in Livingston, founded ‘Smalls for All’ after taking part in volunteer trips to orphanages in Brazil, Thailand and Ethiopia. The charity provides underwear to orphanages, slums, camps, schools and hospitals as well as funding the education of 31 children in Kenya and Uganda.
Ms Macnamara first hit on the pants idea after reading about a priest in Zimbabwe who wrote about how a lack of underwear for communities can cause ‘serious problems’.
The Smalls for All website explains: ‘Not only is it a health and hygiene issue, but women who can afford underwear tend to be seen as having someone who cares for them – a husband, brother or father. They are not on their own so they are not seen as vulnerable.’
Launched by the UK Government last year, Point of Light awards recognise outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. So far 325 individuals have received Point of Light awards
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Maria has identified a direct way to make a huge difference in the lives of women in developing countries.
“In just five years she has set up Smalls for All and gathered over 100,000 items of underwear to send to women across Africa.
“It may seem like a small action, but Maria’s work will have had an immediate impact on the daily lives of thousands of women and I am delighted to recognise her service with this Points of Light award.”
Ms Macnamara said: “I am absolutely delighted that the work that Smalls and our supporters has been doing has been recognised in this way.
“I started this charity because I wanted to make a difference. I didn’t want a party or a fuss for my 40th birthday so instead I used the money to take a volunteering trip to Ethiopia. In the UK we take small things like underwear for granted but in Ethiopia I saw what a huge impact it can have.
“In the first few months of setting up Smalls for All, I collected over 10,000 pairs of pants and those receiving them were absolutely overwhelmed. All of a sudden, they can live normal lives again and go to school, go to church, be part of their community.”
Five years on, Smalls for All has now collected 102,702 items of underwear and distributed 75,451 and recycled 10,000 bras.
Supporters continue to help to collect and distribute underwear, both new pants and new or gently worn bras, to women and children in Africa who need it most. No ‘small’ achievement – bra-vo!
‘Volcano Hunters’ face icy reception
Icelandic police hunt for Edinburgh charity fundraisers
They set off with the noblest of intentions – to raise as much money as they could for PoppyScotland. However it seems that a plan to raise funds by off-roading in Iceland has incurred the wrath of the gods – or at least the local police – and could yet spark a diplomatic incident.
In the finest Boy’s Own tradition, ex-servicemen Matt McHugh and Rhys Rowlands have been planning Operation Ragnarok (a Norse term interpreted as Final Destiny of the Gods) since April. During their month-long expedition this month the men plan to drive a pick-up truck on tricky off-road terrain to the summits of five or six volcanoes across Iceland. It’s the type of challenge Jeremy Clarkson himself would relish.
However it appears that their meticulous planning did not include checking out Iceland’s environmental laws and local sensitivities. The pair’s escapade has caused a storm of protest and could land them in hot water – and we’re not talking geysers!
A number of readers, including some from Iceland, have contacted NEN to express their anger over the expedition.
One said: ‘This is as illegal as it gets in Iceland, you cannot do off-road driving in Iceland. I hope this is just a(n) honest mistake and that you two are not one of the people to leave scars in the fragile environment that we are responsible for!’
Another added: ‘I sincerely hope they find another way to fund this. As others have said here before me off road driving in Iceland is illegal and an downright insult to us Icelanders. The nature here is very delicate and driving off road damages it and leaves a permanent mark.
‘The damages to moss alone can take hundreds of years to heal and frankly travelling to a country that is known for its untouched nature only to damage its nature is idiotic.’
According to local news source Iceland Review the ‘volcano hunters’ are now being hunted by police. IR’s Alex Elliot reported: ‘Northeast Iceland police were not informed of the expedition ahead of time, and the police chief in Húsavík says the case is under investigation in partnership with Vatnajökull National Park rangers to see what damage has been caused to the sensitive landscape.
‘The police chief says that all motorized traffic in the area is forbidden and if the men did indeed drive there, they were in a restricted area. The case would fall under nature protection laws. Any punishment will depend on how much damage the alleged off-road driving has caused and could result in heavy fines.’
Back in April when they launched their Operation Ragnarok campaign, the pair (above) said they were bracing themselves for ‘a tough time ahead’.
Matt said: “I have always wanted to see lava and, admittedly, there might be simpler ways to do this but tackling these volcanoes and reaching the summits is going to be a huge adventure and will test our endurance and stamina to the maximum.”
Rhys added: “The rocky, off-road environment and varying climate of Iceland will test our resilience and perseverance. The attributes and skills we learned in the military will help us to operate in this remote area but it will still be extremely hazardous.”
A tough time and hazardous, indeed – but maybe not the kind of challenges the comrades trained for …
Supermum Lisa’s special delivery
Lisa raises funds for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids
Lisa Quarrell, a mum-of-two, visited the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) in Edinburgh this week to hand over a state-of-the-art piece of equipment to help reduce children’s fear of needles.
Lisa, who’s from East Kilbride, is a familiar face at the hospital after her brave son Cole was admitted to the Paediatric Neurology ward at just two years old to receive treatment for epilepsy. Now three, Cole was just three months old when he first started taking seizures.
Cole was admitted to the RHSC in Edinburgh to undergo a lesionectomy on his left temporal lobe. During this time, little Cole had bloods taken twice a day, every day. On top of epilepsy treatment and examinations, these examinations proved to be extremely stressful for baby Cole, mum Lisa and dad David.
Lisa said: “It was very difficult to find Cole’s veins as they would collapse a lot of the time. The trauma of this made Cole extremely needle phobic. Twice a day, we would have to hold him in place for up to 20 minutes, until we could find a vein and get the blood sample that the nurses required.
“It was heart-breaking for me to watch Cole experience this level of fear over the needles and I was desperate to do something to help the nurses and other patients have an easier time when it came to this essential treatment. When the Ward 7 nurses told me about the AccuVein device it seemed like the perfect solution and I knew I wanted to fundraise for this great piece of kit.”
The state-of-the-art AccuVein device, worth more than £3,500, shines a special light over a child’s body to reveal the veins located underneath the skin. This technique allows nurses to carry out any needle-based procedures more quickly and accurately than ever before, vastly improving what is a traumatic experience for so many children.
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF), which exists to transform the experiences of children visiting hospital, has also invested almost £5,000 to fund this vein illumination device and other innovative equipment to help reduce children’s anxiety around needles across the hospital.
Lisa continued: “It’s amazing the difference one small instrument can make to a child’s experience in hospital and I’m so happy to see the first AccuVein device I fundraised for go to good use in Ward 7. I’m hoping to fund a further four devices in the next few months so that more children than ever before can benefit.”
Roslyn Neely, Chief Executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “At the SKFF we believe that nothing should get in the way of being a child, this includes small procedures like injections, blood samples and cannulation which can be extremely stressful for young children.
“We’re extremely grateful to Lisa and her entire family for their help in bringing this equipment to the ward floors – we’re already seeing the positive impact it is having for patients, families and the nursing staff across the hospital.”
Fringe benefits: Mental health charity to benefit from festival productions
Scottish charity Health in Mind is to benefit from two Fringe productions which are based on true-life experiences.
The productions highlight the impact of mental illness on the individual and the people around them in the play, Disorder, and of domestic violence in the dance and spoken word performance, Herstory.
Disorder is the first production of the amateur creative collective, Kincaid Productions and is based on the childhood experiences of one of the two authors.
A spokesperson for the collective explained: “Focussing on mental health and in particular Bipolar Disorder, the play is set in both the present, where a son is visiting his mother in a psychiatric hospital and the past, where the mother and son attempt to address the differences between their perspectives.
“The play looks at the effects and impact of mental illness on the individual and the people around them and highlights the shifts of mental state caused by Bipolar Disorder.”
The spokesperson added: “Herstory is a combination of dance and spoken word and is performed by its writer Zosia Jo. It was created after women were invited to share their stories about their relationships.
“Ten of the women’s experiences, some being told to Zosia for the very first time, were woven to create a single story, which is the performance. The show deals delicately but powerfully with the issue of domestic violence and it is a love story with a painful twist that has nothing whatsoever to do with love. Herstory has been described as ‘A powerful testimony to survival and renewal’ (ThePlace.org.uk).”
Katherine Sellar, Health in Mind’s community fundraiser is delighted that both productions have pledged to raise funds for the charity. She said: “The productions reflect in different ways, the experiences of some of the people engaged with the specialist services Health in Mind delivers.
“Services include a range of support and counselling for people affected by trauma; befriending services for those feeling isolated due to experiencing difficulties with mental health and support to enable people experiencing long term and enduring mental health difficulties to stay in their homes.
“We believe that people should not be defined by their illness or trauma and we work with them to help them live the life they want to live and to survive and thrive.”
Disorder is on daily until 31 August at C NOVA Studio 6d, India Buildings, Victoria Street from 14.30 to 15.15 and Herstory is on daily from 7 to 22 August at The Aviary, The Zoo, 140 The Pleasance from 14.25 to 15.10.
Volunteer and help Scotland’s animals
‘We need the support of the public more than ever’ – Diane Aitchison, SSPCA
The Scottish SPCA is appealing to kind hearted people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help raise funds for abused, abandoned and injured animals by volunteering.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity is urging locals to get involved this Scottish Animal Week, which runs from 31 August to 5 September, by shaking a collection tin in their area.
Diane Aitchison, manager of the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balerno, said, “Last year our centre took in over 1,000 animals and we need the support of the public more than ever.
“As an animal welfare charity, we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on the generosity of animal lovers to continue our vital work.
“During Scottish Animal Week we have opportunities to fundraise throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians and we’d be really grateful if locals can get behind our appeal and help.
“Door-to-door fundraising can be carried out between Monday and Friday, while people can hold street collections on the Saturday.
“We encourage people to have a bit of fun and some of our past
volunteers have dressed up in costumes or taken a canine friend along with them.
“Even if someone can only spare an hour or two to shake a collection tin, their time and efforts would be hugely appreciated.”
If you’d like to help fundraise for the Scottish SPCA contact the fundraising team on 03000 999 999 or email fundraising@scottishspca.org
It’s official: Memorial match at Spartans sets new world record
Craig Gowans memorial match smashes world record
The team behind the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have officially become Guinness World Record Holders, smashing the record for the Longest Marathon Playing Football – in aid of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.
The group of enthusiastic football fans played out of their skin at The Spartans Ainslie Park home last month, completing a 105 hour-long football match which finished with an impressive final score of 774 – 707!
The game, hosted in memory of the late Falkirk defender Craig Gowans, who tragically died exactly ten years previously, originally hoped to raise £37,000 for the SKFF – inspired by Craig’s professional number at Falkirk, number 37. With donations still coming in, however, the final total is set to reach around £100,000!
The money raised will be used by the Sick Kids Friends Foundation to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name. The space will be a calming room with multi-sensory equipment providing a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.
Ex-Rangers, Hibernain and Scotland boss, Alex McLeish attended the landmark fundraising event, as well as the current Scottish Cup holding manager, John Hughes. Footballers Scott Arfield and Thomas Scobbie were also there to cheer the players on.
Dario Alonzi, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “We’re over the moon to have been officially granted Guinness World Record Holder status – the football match itself was an epic challenge and one that pushed us all to the very limit.
“To come away from the experience with official recognition of our efforts in the form of a World Record, as well as putting Craig’s name in the history books and raising £100,000 to gift to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, is just priceless.
“Again I would like to thank absolutely everyone who played a part in making this match possible, as well as everyone who has donated so generously.”
Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We have been blown away by the funds raised by the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund Football Match. The heroic lengths they have gone to in order to raise this money is something that will never be forgotten.
“Congratulations to the entire team, I’m absolutely delighted to hear that they have become official Guinness World Record Holders – and deservedly so. The money they have raised will help us transform the experience of the young people who visit Edinburgh’s new children’s hospital when it opens its doors in 2017.”
Finlay’s FUNdraising at Ainslie Park this Saturday
Wee Finlay Thomson’s family have organised a charity fundraising event to support the Sick Kids Foundation as a thank you for the excellent treatment they gave Finlay during his battle with cancer …
Most of you know about the football tournament taking place at Spartans this coming Saturday (see yesterday’s post, In Memory of Frankie).
Well, the lovely staff at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre have given us use of one of their halls along with the bouncy castle from 3pm to 5pm.
Other activities for the kids include Beat the goalie, Hook the duck, Splat the rat and Arts & crafts.
There will also be face painting from 3.30pm to 4.45pm courtesy of the very talented Brenda of Bubbly Bees & Co.
We will also have a Bake Sale, Guess the number of sweets and Guess the name of the cuddly toy.
Hopefully you can make it along to either/both the charity events.
Hopefully see you Saturday.
Anna, Bryan & Finlay. Xxx
The link to the event is
In memory of Frankie
Charity match will raise funds for local youth project
In 2005, Frank McEwan, a local Pilton lad in his twenties, tragically died of cancer. It is a tribute to his vibrant personality that, ten years on, several of his friends wish to pay tribute to him.
Frank, known as Frankie to his friends, was a keen and gifted footballer who played for West Pilton Albion FC. It is therefore fitting that the tribute is in the form of a football match – West Pilton Albion Veterans v Lauriston Thistle.
This will take place at East Pilton Park on Saturday 1 August, kick off 2 pm. As well as the match itself, there will be other attractions like Beat the Goalie, Spot the Ball and a raffle with some excellent prizes generously donated by local businesses. Refreshments will also be served.
As well as a fitting way to honour Frankie’s life, this should prove a really good community event. All proceeds will be donated to Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, which works tirelessly to improve life for local young people and is a cause his friends have no doubt Frankie would have approved of.
More information can be found on Facebook page – Frank McEwan Memorial Match. Come along and have a good afternoon out, but if unable to attend, donations can be made directly to Pilton Youth and Childrens Project, quoting “In memory of Frankie”.