All aboard Lothian Buses to the Mad Hatter’s Midnight Tea Party!

The MoonWalk Scotland’s amazing Pink Bus is back – and thanks to Lothian Buses, it’s en route to the Mad Hatter’s Midnight Tea Party! For the third year, Lothian Buses are uniting with MoonWalk organisers breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, as Official Transport Partner for the iconic night-time walking challenge.

The MoonWalk celebrates its 10^th anniversary on 13 June this year, when thousands of women, men and young Walkers will join together at Edinburgh’s Inverleith Park to celebrate a decade of incredible Scottish fundraising and decorated bras, before setting off on their Walking challenges. With this year’s Alice in Wonderland inspired theme, organisers are expecting a night full of fun, wonder and madness!

Between now and The MoonWalk Scotland in June, Lothian Buses’ specially branded bright Pink Bus will once again become a familiar sight on bus routes all over Edinburgh and the Lothians, and will be the centre piece of several special roadshows in the build up to the event.

On the night itself, Lothian Buses will provide a special service from Edinburgh City Centre to Inverleith Park and will also transport hundreds of the charity’s fantastic Volunteers to and from their positions on The MoonWalk route. Participants in the New Moon challenge (6.55 miles) will also be chauffeured by Lothian Buses back from their finish line to MoonWalk City, where they will watch films in Walk the Walk’s huge Pink Tent.

Lothian Buses are not only providing the wheels to and from The MoonWalk Wonderland, but some of the company’s staff are also ditching their regular uniforms for Alice in Wonderland inspired costumes, as they take part in The MoonWalk themselves.

The MoonWalk Scotland has raised almost £18 million over the last ten years, with most of the money staying in Scotland, to help improve the lives of people with cancer. Walk the Walk makes a huge difference across the country, granting large amounts to projects and charities who would otherwise take many years to raise the money on their own.

There is a walking distance for every age and ability, from the 6.55 miles New Moon challenge, now in its third year, to the Half Moon (13.1 miles), Full Moon (26.2 miles) and for those wanting a thrilling new goal, the double marathon Over The Moon (52.4 miles).

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “I am absolutely delighted that Lothian Buses are once again uniting with Walk the Walk as our Official Transport Partner for 2015, and especially as this year will be a big year, as we celebrate our ten years of MoonWalking in Scotland.

“Lothian Buses will have a busy night ahead of them, transporting our Walkers from the centre of Edinburgh to the best party in town at Inverleith, helping to deploy our Volunteers and Marshalls around the course, and collecting all our New Mooners from their Finish Line and delivering them back to MoonWalk City.

“And as for the incredible pink MoonWalk Scotland bus, it will be out on the streets of Edinburgh and the Lothians, always spreading the word – it’s a daily reminder to encourage people to sign up for The MoonWalk and help to really make a huge difference to people with breast cancer across Scotland.”

Tina McMurray, a Lothian Buses driver who is leading the company’s MoonWalkers on 13 June said: “We are delighted that once again thanks to the support of our employers, Lothian Buses, staff can get involved with The MoonWalk for the third year running. We are all really excited for the night itself and helping this great cause.”

Entries are now open for The MooonWalk Scotland 2015. To sign up as a walker or volunteer, go to www.walkthewalk.org/moonwalkscotland

Total-ly delighted!

£84,000 will establish a Community Leadership College

The STV Appeal is the fund that just keeps on giving to projects in North Edinburgh – Total Craigroyston became the latest local beneficiary when it received almost £84,000 from the charity programme.

STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal Rob Woodward and Chris Wilson managing director, Retail and Private Banking, RBS, presented the cheque for £83, 980 to Total Craigroyston manager Christine Mackay yesterday.

The STV Appeal raised £2.6million in 2014 – £305,689 of this was raised by RBS branches.

Total Craigroyston is an initiative set up by the Edinburgh Partnership to improve outcomes for children and families in the neighbourhood around Craigroyston Community High School. The project is doing this by taking a three pronged approach –

strengthening services that are open to all like health, early years and schools;
strengthening support for families;
supporting local people to organise their own activities.

Now, working in partnership with charities Circle Scotland and the Link-up Muirhouse project, an idea has been developed to establish a Community Leadership College. This will help Total Craigroyston expand leadership capability amongst local residents.

Julie Crawford, Muirhouse Link Up development worker, said: “We are really excited about the opportunity that the STV Appeal has given us to turn our idea into reality. This project will help us work with local people to build on the excellent local leadership that exists at the moment and take it to the next level.”

Chris Wilson, managing director, Retail and Private Banking, RBS, said: “It’s fantastic to see first-hand the work of projects like Total Craigroyston and understand the real impact that the money from the STV Appeal will have on them. RBS is proud to support the STV Appeal and help change the lives of vulnerable children and young people in Scotland.”

The STV Appeal is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country, 220,000 children live in poverty and figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that in the city of Edinburgh it’s actually 21.1% of children – more than one in five.

Total Craigroyston is just one of the projects the STV Appeal is supporting in North Edinburgh – Pilton Youth & Childrens Project, Changeworks and Fresh Start have all received grants from the funder.

Since launch in 2011, the STV Appeal has raised over £8.2 million with 297 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 37,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.

Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The money donated to the STV Appeal remains in Scotland and will help bring about a positive change to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep. With the help of the extraordinary fundraising efforts taking place in communities across the country we have raised an incredible £2.6m in 2014 allowing us to make grants to 297 projects. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the Appeal.”

PoLHA raises funds for Kinsfolk Carers

Late (or is it very early?) Christmas gift for carers group

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) held a post-Christmas raffle and raised £115 for Kinsfolk Carers.

The organisation, a drop-in centre and support group for kinship carers, is based at Leith Community Centre.

Kinship care is the raising of a child or children by relatives or close family friends because the biological parents are, for whatever reason, unwilling or unable to do so.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: ““Kinsfolk Carers does a fantastic job and is a lifeline for many carers. Being a Leith-based organisation, the same as us, we felt it was appropriate to donate the proceeds of our post-Christmas raffle to them.”

Too grand! STV Appeal support for PYCP

Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) has received £2000 from the STV Appeal 2014. The funding is welcome news for the local project and will support PY’s clubs and groups throughout the year.

The STV Appeal team’s Natalie Wright called in at The Greenhouse last week to present the cheque and met children from PY’s P5 – P7 Club.

PYCP provides a wide range of services and activities – from open clubs and groups to community and school-based individual support in North Edinburgh. Each provision is designed to meet the needs of a particular age and peer group, and activities are tailored to meet these needs in consultation with the children and young people involved.

PYCP carry out open access youth work plus promotion of good health and well being. The project offers targeted and referred support work to children and young people in need. There is also a Preventative Opportunities Programme which supports young people by engaging their whole family in activities, outings and workshops together.

The STV Appeal is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country, 220,000 children live in poverty and figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that in Edinburgh it’s actually 21.1% of children. Pilton Youth and Children’s Project is one of the projects the STV Appeal is supporting in Edinburgh.

PYCP youth and children’s worker Mark Hunter said: “As someone who has been part of PYCP for the past ten years, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that the project has made in the lives of so many young people, their families and the community around them.

“I think PYCP is unique in the way that it is there for children when they start their school career aged five and continues to be there for them until they are 18 and beyond. It is really important that we can provide opportunities for all children and young people in Pilton to have fun with their friends and take part in organised activities, all free of charge.

“Because of that we are ideally placed to offer additional support to those who want it and support all young people to reach their potential. Being part of PYCP has been immensely rewarding for me and I’m excited to see how the next ten years pans out too.”

Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “Yet again the people of Scotland have cast their vote – end child poverty. Through the STV Appeal we are attempting to deliver sustainable solutions to do just that. It is simply unacceptable in modern Scotland to still have young people debilitated by poverty, through this project and many more the people of Scotland are doing their level best to combat poverty.”

Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The generosity of the people in Scotland who provide such great support to the STV Appeal is incredibly encouraging and heart-warming. However, it is deeply concerning that there continues to be a significant requirement across Scotland for financial support for child poverty.

“Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, a commission I chaired recently, has the overarching aim to enable Scotland’s young people to move into sustainable employment upon leaving education. But how can they achieve positive destinations if they have a less than adequate start in life?

“I sincerely believe that the grants donated by the STV Appeal can have a significant impact on the lives of Scotland’s young people and make a real contribution to eradicating child poverty in Scotland.”

The STV Appeal 2015 is now well underway with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned. Watch this space!

Lazarowicz: Fast-track benefits for terminally ill

‘long delays risk leaving terminally ill people destitute in the last months of their life’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

Mark Lazarowicz MP is backing Gordon Aikman’s MND campaign and has called on the Government to fast track benefits for people like Gordon with terminal conditions.

Speaking in a debate in Parliament yesterday, the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith called on the Government to fast track benefit claims from people with terminal conditions like Motor Neurone Disease and intervened to tell the Minister that the prolonged delays, in some cases of up to 18 months, could mean the outcome comes too late for some people with limited life expectancy.

He said later: “I strongly support Gordon Aikman’s campaign to fast track benefit claims from people with terminal conditions like MND: people are waiting 6 months and in some cases 3 times that just to have an assessment.

“Claims can be fast tracked where someone is not expected to live longer than 6 months but where does that leave someone with MND where the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 14 months?

“The Government should offer financial support to people suffering as a result of the delays caused by its own incompetence but first and foremost it should make sure that their claims are fast tracked.

“The Minister’s response in the debate was not acceptable: it’s shameful that people who are so ill should spend the last months or year of their life in financial hardship having to fight so hard for the benefits they are entitled to.”

He was speaking in a debate on the introduction of the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the disability benefit that is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which is designed to help seriously ill or disabled people with the extra costs their condition entails.

It was announced on Thursday that responsibility for PIP is to be devolved in future and Mark has called for the roll-out of the new benefit to existing DLA claimants to be stopped until it is because of the huge backlog of assessments.

That was also the conclusion of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee: it reported last March that even where someone did have their claim fast tracked because they were not expected to live more than 6 months, the time taken to process their claim had increased from typically 8 days with DLA to 8 weeks with PIP.

Mark Lazarowicz says the Government has moved the goalposts: its original target was for the whole process from claim to decision to be completed within 16 weeks, now it is that all assessments should be completed within that time and it is even failing that target.

Gordon Aikman’s story

I’m dying. And fast.

That – in short – was what my doctor told me just a few weeks ago when I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

It’s not the news you expect when you are 29 years old.

MND is a rare, progressive and debilitating disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It leads to weakness and muscle wasting and will affect how I walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

There is no cure.

That’s why I am doing all I can to raise money for MND Scotland – a great charity that funds and promotes research into the disease and provides support to people affected by Motor Neurone Disease.

It’ll be too late for me, but we must find a cure for the next generation.

With your help I can turn a negative into a positive. Please dig deep and donate what you can today.

100% of the money you donate will be spent on trying to find a cure.

Thank you

Gordon

P.S. Please visit www.gordonsfightback.com to tell your your MP and MSPs to back my campaign to double MND research funding.

To date Gordon has raised £216,683.88 of his £250,000.00 target. 3,690 individual donations have been made.

https://www.justgiving.com/gordonaikman/

Seeing red on 6 February

British Heart Foundation says Wear It. Beat It on 6 February

One in four of our loved ones are lost to heart and circulatory disease, so on 6 February we’re asking the nation to show their support by wearing red and hosting an event to fund our life-saving research.

Whoever you are doing it for, and whatever you decide to wear, you can get involved in your workplace, school or with friends and family.

Hosting an event is easy and we’ve got loads of ideas to help get you started.

When you sign up we will be able to download our fundraising kit full of fun ideas to hold a successful event and raise money towards our fight.

CORONARY HEART DISEASE IS THE UK’S SINGLE BIGGEST KILLER

For over 50 years we’ve pioneered research that’s transformed the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions. Our work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are changing the fight against heart disease.

But so many people still need our help. From babies born with life-threatening heart problems to the many Mums, Dads and Grandparents who survive a heart attack and endure the daily battles of heart failure.

Join our fight for every heartbeat. Every pound raised, minute of your time and donation to our shops will help make a difference to people’s lives.

Wear red and organise an event on 6 February and join us in our fight against heart and circulatory disease.

Hair today …!

Edinburgh College students help George Watson’s pupils donate hair to charity

Edinburgh College hair and beauty students have been using their scissor skills to chop George Watson’s College pupils’ hair to help make wigs for children with cancer. The students visited George Watson’s to cut the pupils’ hair in aid of the charity the Little Princess Trust.

The Little Princess Trust provides real hair wigs to children with hair loss due to cancer treatment. Two members of staff and 12 pupils from P6, S4, S5 and S6 each donated seven inches of their hair to the charity. Each girl’s hair was braided into a seven-inch ponytail to be cut off and made into a real hair wig.

Thirteen Edinburgh College hairdressing students cut the ponytails off in front of the whole Senior School, before providing each volunteer with new hairstyles with the help of lecturers Adelle Smillie and Nicky Heneke.

The pupils had been inspired by an assembly in early December, where PE Teacher Kerry McNaughton and S1 pupil Ella Hopley had their hair cut in front of the school for donation to the charity.

Good listeners sought by Edinburgh-based helpline

GOOD LISTENERS SOUGHT BY EDINBURGH-BASED HELPLINE

An Edinburgh based helpline for stressed parents and carers is looking for volunteer call takers. ParentLine Scotland took more than 4000 calls from anxious mums, dads and carers from across the country last year.

The charity offers a helpline, email and web-chat service, for anyone caring for or concerned about a child. It is run by CHILDREN 1^ST which works to ensure every child and young person in Scotland has a happy, healthy, safe and secure childhood.

Helpline Manager Jill Cook said: “Our volunteers make an enormous difference to the lives of mums, dads, carers, and professionals just by being there to listen and reassure. It’s a vital service and we ensure they’re ready for the role with 40 hours of high quality training. They also have back-up from a supervisor.”

Volunteers at ParentLine Scotland give a minimum commitment to a year after training. The charity says it’s looking for caring, non-judgemental people who are interested in the wellbeing of children and young people. Calls can be about all sorts of issues from bullying to separating families, teenage behaviour and toddlers tantrums.

Volunteer Janin Pohl (40) said: “Whatever people call with we take it seriously, it’s not trivial. In that time they are valued. You don’t often find out how things go but at the time you have that sense that there is now a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”

The next volunteer training course starts on 31 January. To find out more contact parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk

ParentLine Scotland is open 365 days a year on 08000 28 22 33. You can also get in touch by web-chat at www.children1st.org.uk/parentlineor by email parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk

Volunteer Profile

Janin Pohl (40) from Edinburgh has been a ParentLine Scotland volunteer for three and a half years. She was born in Germany and travelled before settling in Edinburgh seven years ago. She is trained in counselling and shiatsu massage. Janin is blind.

How did you get involved?

“When I saw the advert for ParentLine Scotland I came at it from the perspective of a child. There are so many things that aren’t talked about in families. They’re swept under the carpet or people never say how they are feeling and I thought maybe it’s like that for adults too. Plus I’d done counselling training and this was a way I could use my skills. I’d been volunteering from home and I thought it would be good to go to an office with a team and a supervisor and be with people.”

Why do you think ParentLine can help even when friends and family can’t?

“You can decide when you want to talk and the caller is in control. They can say things they would never say at home. Some people do have support but find it easier to talk to a stranger who will not judge them or their situation.”

How do you cope with calls that are upsetting?

“If I have a difficult call the most important thing is to acknowledge how it is making me feel. If I feel sad then I am sad. If I need to I can get support from the supervisor and we can talk about it.”

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

“I’d say it’s always good to give something a try. You don’t need to have a family of your own. As someone from outside of the family you have perspective. It’s about being there with them accompanying the person in what they are going through.”

Macmillan tops 2014 charity poll

Macmillan Cancer Support was the top charity brand of 2014, analysis from YouGov’s CharityIndex has shown. Macmillan is named the research company’s best charity brand for the second year running.

YouGov’s 2014 CharityIndex, which is compiled using data on the public’s perception of charities on a daily basis, ranked Cancer Research UK in second place (up from third in 2013), and armed forces charity Help for Heroes in third (down from second).

The rest of the top five is rounded off by the British Heart Foundation in fourth position (which moves up from sixth place last year) and the Royal British Legion in fifth (which drops by one).

Across the top ten charity brands last year only one, the Royal British Legion, increased its average year-on-year ‘buzz score’. It’s score rose by 0.6 points following the hundredth anniversary of the start of World War One which generated heightened media coverage. One other, Marie Curie Cancer Care, stayed exactly the same. However, all of the other charities in the top ten had lower average scores across 2014 compared to 2013.

CharityIndex measures the public’s perception of charities on a daily basis across a range of measures. YouGov’s 2014 rankings were compiled using Buzz scores from across the year. Buzz scores measure whether people have heard good versus bad news about a charity in the previous two weeks.

YouGov’s 2014 end of year charity brand Buzz rankings (2013 rank in brackets):

1 (1) Macmillan Cancer Support – 18.3

2 (3) Cancer Research UK – 12.8

3 (2) Help for Heroes – 11.2

4 (6) British Heart Foundation – 7.6

5 (4) Royal British legion – 7.3

6 (8) British Red Cross – 6.7

= (5) RNLI – 6.7

= (9) Dogs Trust – 6.7

9 (12) Marie Curie Cancer Care – 6.6

10 (7) Guide Dogs– 5.8

Briony Gunstone, Associate Director at YouGov, said: ‘This is the second year we have released end of year charity brand rankings and Macmillan Cancer Support once again heads the list. It is notable just how stable the top ten is. Clearly these charities are all still engaging in activity that is achieving cut through among the public.

“One area that is worth watching over the next 12 months is that – with just two exceptions – there has been a small decrease in the scores across the charities on the list. It could be a small wobble that will right itself next time. If it continues into next year’s figures, though, it could speak to a wider problem among the sector.”

Earlier this month Macmillan Cancer Care released a study that showed there will be a record high 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK in 2015, an increase of almost half a million people over the last five years.

Letter: Putting Children First

Dear Sir/Madam

Sadly this time of year sees a rise in the number of people seeking help from family solicitors to divorce or separate. We want as many parents as possible to know about the help available from the Family Decision Making Service.

We know that children cope better with separation when their parents work together to reduce conflict. We also know that’s not easy and that’s why we are here to help.

Three well-respected children’s charities work together to deliver this one-stop-shop service covering legal advice, support to make parenting plans and emotional support. Our help is completely confidential and free of charge.

More information and help is available at ww.familydecisionmaking.org.uk or by calling 08000 28 22 33

Yours faithfully
Alan Forgie
Family Decision Making