Tag: charity

One in three will develop dementia, charity warns

alone

Alzheimer’s Research UK has renewed its call for urgent action on dementia as new analysis estimates that one in three people born this year will develop the condition during their lifetime.

The findings, revealed on World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September), foreshadow a looming national health crisis as the UK population ages, and underlines the need for global efforts to develop new treatments to succeed.

Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK and is caused by brain diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s, which result in the loss of brain cells and impair the brain’s ability to function properly. Early symptoms can include problems with memory and thinking, but as brain cell death becomes more widespread, physical functions such as walking and even swallowing can be affected. Currently there are no treatments able to stop or slow Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in their tracks.

With age the biggest risk factor for dementia, the number of people living with the condition is expected to rise as the population ages and life expectancy increases. The latest research, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Research UK and carried out by the Office of Health Economics, set out to calculate the number of people born today who could be expected develop the condition during their lifetime. The analysis took into account life expectancy estimates for people born in 2015, as well as estimates of dementia incidence in men and women of different ages. The report estimates that:

  • 32% of people born in the UK 2015, or one in three, will develop dementia during their lifetime
  • 27% of males born in 2015 will develop the condition
  • 37% of females born in 2015 will develop the condition

Previous research from the team estimated that a treatment capable of delaying the onset of dementia by five years would reduce the number of dementia cases by a third. As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched several major initiatives to help speed up the development of new treatments, including a network of Drug Discovery Institutes and a Global Clinical Trials Fund.

Amanda Franks, from Swindon, a Champion of Alzheimer’s Research UK, whose mum Cathy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s six years ago, said:

“My mum was only 58 when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Up until then we had no idea this devastating disease could affect someone so young. Simple day-to-day tasks like making a cup of tea, getting dressed and eating soon became a huge challenge for Mum. Dad cared for her at home with family help for five years by which time things were getting out of hand with her violent behaviour and hallucinations – life became extremely stressful.

“As a mum myself, I would dearly love to see preventions and new treatments found to defeat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, giving hope to people now and future generations. These new statistics are terrifying but they will open everyone’s eyes to the enormity of the situation. Research can beat dementia and, with more investment, Alzheimer’s Research UK can drive the next breakthrough so urgently needed.”

Dr Matthew Norton, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“These figures underline a stark reality: as people are living longer, more and more people will develop dementia in the future if action is not taken now to tackle the condition. It’s wonderful news that each generation is living longer than the last, but it’s important to ensure that people can enjoy these extra years in good health. Dementia is our greatest medical challenge and if we are to beat it, we must invest in research to find new treatments and preventions. If we could delay the onset of dementia by five years, we could reduce the number of people living with the condition by a third. Research has the power to transform lives, and our actions now will help determine the future for children born today. The hundreds of thousands of families affected by dementia now deserve to know that we are fighting for them.”

Lady Provost to sleep rough – at the Zoo!

‘Nobody can truly experience the struggle of homelessness based on one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside’ – Lady Provost Elaine Brand.

sleeping rough

Edinburgh’s Lady Provost will brave a cold night at the Zoo next week in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for local causes.

On a crusade to raise awareness of homelessness in the city, the Lady Provost Elaine Brand has challenged local businesses and individuals to join her as she swaps her bed for a sleeping bag and experiences a night with the nocturnal sounds of the RZSS Edinburgh Zoo’s animal inhabitants.

‘The Lady Provost’s Sleep Out at Edinburgh Zoo’ will raise vital funds for Four Square and the Rock Trust to help young people get off the streets and into work. Over 160 people have so far signed up to take part including teams from Edinburgh companies, members of the British Army and Lord Provost Donald Wilson.

The Lady Provost said she wants people to ‘open their eyes’ to what it is like for young homeless people during the colder months but admits the challenge will be nothing compared to the struggle faced by those who sleep rough every night.

She said: “In spite of Edinburgh’s continued growth as a successful and affluent city, homelessness remains a pressing issue. Nobody can truly experience the struggle of homelessness based on one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside.

“We’ll be sleeping out in September when the nights get longer and the temperature drops – I hope this shock to the system will emphasise just how difficult this year’s colder months will be for our young homeless people.”

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson added: “Elaine is determined to raise awareness of youth homelessness in Edinburgh and this event is an attempt to raise as much money as possible for Four Square and the Rock Trust. These charities are very close to her heart and I hope we can help to make a big difference.”

Edinburgh Zoo, owned by the charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), is home to more than 1,000 endangered animals and is one of Europe’s leading centres of conservation. The sleep out will take place outside the Zoo’s historic Mansion House, close to the popular Penguins Rock and Lemur Walkthrough.

Chris West, Chief Executive of RZSS, said: “We are delighted to support worthy causes of this nature. We wish every success to all those involved in raising awareness of homelessness in Edinburgh.”

While the number of people presenting to the City of Edinburgh Council as rough sleepers is the lowest of any Scottish city – having reduced by almost 15 per cent over the last five years – almost 4,000 people were assessed as homeless in the Capital last year: a quarter of those are aged 24 or younger.

The Rock Trust Chief Executive Kate Polson said: “We support approximately 400 young people from across Edinburgh and the Lothians every year, which shows that youth homelessness is a real problem. For the majority of people who become homeless, the main reason behind it is family breakdown or problems at school. It can really happen to anyone. This event will help raise awareness of the hardships faced by those forced to sleep rough and the Lady Provost and all the participants are helping to highlight the devastating issue of youth homelessness.”

Four Square Chief Executive Heather Arni said: “Every night in Edinburgh we provide a safe haven for 40 young people aged 16-24 in two hostels and 18 training flats. But simply giving them a roof over their head is not enough. We give them skills to fend for themselves, like cooking, budgeting and the chance to take a training course or volunteer. The Zoo sleep out facilitated by the Lady Provost and RZSS Edinburgh Zoo will enable both charities to continue their work.”

‘The Lady Provost’s Sleep Out at Edinburgh Zoo’ will take place overnight on Thursday 24 September.

Show your support on social media #ZooSleepOut

and by making a donation:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/SleepOutAtEdinburghZoo

Stage is set for Showcase 2015

Showcase aims to raise £250,000 to aid Macmillan Cancer Support in anniversary year 

Showcase flyer2015

Following the hugely successful Showcase 25, charity Showcase Musical Productions is now in rehearsals for its regular annual show-stopping performance.

From 22-26 September, Showcase returns to the Church Hill Theatre to continue celebrating its 25th anniversary raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. This will be a double celebration as this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Church Hill Theatre.

Director, Andy Johnston, describes the programme as: “An eclectic mix of old and new including songs from throughout the lengthy career of Sir Elton John and a tribute to the genius that was Jacques Brel.

“We celebrate the recent reunion of classic 1970’s megastars Fleetwood Mac and perform some of the most celebrated cover versions of all time, including songs from artists as diverse as Pet Shop Boys, Faith No More and J2.

“We even manage to squeeze in songs from classic shows such as Les Miserables, Priscilla – Queen of the Desert and Cabaret, alongside songs from current West End hits Gypsy, The Kinks Musical; Sunny Afternoon and Carole King’s Beautiful.”

Showcase is one of the biggest fundraisers for Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland, having raised over £230,000 in the last 25 years. Showcase hopes to raise sufficient funds from this anniversary year to reach their £250,000 target.

This is a cause that is close to all Showcasers’ hearts, many of the company and supporters have first-hand experience of the tremendous work of Macmillan.IMG_2498

Jayne Forbes, Macmillan Fundraising Manager for Edinburgh, said: “The support of Showcase is pivotal to Macmillan’s presence in Scotland. We couldn’t have developed services in the way we have without them. And with more people living – and not dying – from cancer, the need for our support is greatly increasing.

“It’s great to work with Showcase. They are fantastic fundraisers but more than this they are truly passionate about, and dedicated to, Macmillan. We couldn’t wish for better advocates and supporters and we would like to thank each and every one of them for their commitment to us.”

Showcase 25 was a phenomenal success and it helped to kick off the 25th anniversary celebrations for Showcase. All Edinburgh Theatre’s Thom Dibdin felt that Showcase ‘rose to the challenges of staging a big choral show on the King’s stage with significant success.’

Showcase 2015 is already shaping up to be just as exciting and is a show not to be missed. Vice President Alan Hunter sums up why tickets should be bought for this performance: “By coming along and buying a ticket, you are genuinely making a difference to somebody’s life, and what could be better than that?”

No joke: Fringe favourite Adam supports Sick Kids

Aussie comic raises £10,000 for Sick Kids charity 

adam-hills-happyism

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) has benefited from the generosity of Fringe audiences at this year’s festival, after Australian comedian Adam Hills collected more than £10,000 for the children’s charity.

Adam Hills’ stand up show, Clown Heart, returned to the capital for its third year and was deemed a Fringe favourite. In between his time on stage, kind hearted comedian Adam braved the cold, standing outside the venue urging donations to the Foundation wearing nothing but pants and a dressing gown!

Adam’s Saltire underwear caught the attention of festival revellers on the Capital’s streets and encouraged a fantastic volume of donations across his week long string of sell-out performances.

Adam Hills said: “The Sick Kids Friends Foundation is an amazing organisation that does an incredible job. All I had to do was mention their name, then stand out the front of the venue with a bucket. The audience did the rest. 

“They told me stories of friends, family or their own experiences with the Sick Kids. And they were all incredibly generous. It may have helped that I offered to disrobe for anything over five pounds.”

Rachel McKenzie, head of voluntary fundraising at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful that Adam chose the Sick Kids Friends Foundation to benefit from the incredibly generous donations his audience made across the week-long show.

“The Fringe is famous for bringing the best out in everyone that attends and it’s fantastic to see so many people dig deep and raise such a tremendous total.

“The funds are vital in supporting us to ensure nothing gets in the way of being a child for the thousands of youngsters who visit Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children each year. With the help of this generous donation we will continue to transform the experiences of children in hospital so they can be a child first and a patient later.” 

For more information on the work of the SKFF visit www.edinburghsickkids.org. 

Helping the helpless: local collection points for humanitarian aid

Edinburgh Direct Aid supporting Syrian refugees

syria children

Newhaven -based charity Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA) is supporting international efforts to give aid to the tens of thousands of desperate people who have been forced to flee their homes, run for their lives and risk the safety of their families.

We can help by providing much-needed supplies – we can all help to make a difference.

The public response has already been tremendous, but the following items are urgently needed:

underwear (new!)
toothpaste
toothbrushes
soap
detergent
toilet paper
nappies
sanitary towels
wipes

And equipment needed for education and vocational training:

notebooks

A4 paper

pens/pencils

boardwriters

sewing materials

wool’

WHERE TO DONATE:

GRANTON MUIRHOUSE and WEST PILTON

The EDA warehouse is located behind a wire-grid gate on the south side of West Harbour Road – just past the TEBA boxing studio and opposite Len Lothian. It’s now open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11am – 3pm.

It is usually possible to park in the road outside, or to bring a car inside the gate but manoeuvring inside the yard can be awkward.

For further information contact Ian on 0785 785 5849

If it’s more convenient, you can make your donations in Muirhouse or West Pilton – both Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road (Monday to Friday 9am -3pm) and Pilton Youth & Childrens Project (PYCP) (telephone 332 9815) are also collection points for the Edinburgh Direct Aid appeal.

Please give what you can

Emma and Jamie are Points of Light

Edinburgh teenagers Emma Sutherland and Jamie McIntosh have received Points of Light awards in recognition of their work for cancer charities. 

Set up and administered by The Prime Minister’s Office, the Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Since it’s launch last year 328 people have received an Award.

emma

Teenagers Emma (pictured above) and Jamie have both written books telling the stories of their mothers’ cancer diagnoses. When Emma’s mother, Rosie, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Emma didn’t know where to look for answers. She wrote Eek! My Mummy Has Breast Cancer to help other teens in the same situation.

Jamie met Emma after his mother, Monica, lost her 17-year battle with cancer. Emma inspired him to write My Mum Monica, a book about her life and the emotional rollercoaster of bereavement.

So far, Emma’s book has sold 1,800 copies and is available in Maggie’s Centres across the UK, as well as schools and libraries. Jamie’s book has sold 500 copies, raising £2,000 for the charity Fight Against Cancer Edinburgh.

Also recognised in August was Penicuik’s Lesley Anderson.

Lesley lost her son Chris when he was stillborn at 29 weeks and set up ComforTED as a way to help other parents of stillborn babies through their bereavement. ComforTED provides a pair of handmade teddies – one to be buried with the baby and one for parents to keep. Lesley has now sent over 900 pairs of teddies around the world.

Congratulations to them all.

CAP to open debt help centre in Comely Bank

StStephenComelyBank

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

MariaMacnamara

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

iceland2

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.’

raganok

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 …