Tickets are still available for Thursday evening’s Worbey and Farrell benefit concert for LifeCare – see poster for details:
Contact LifeCare on 343 0940 or call in to LifeCare in Cheyne Street to get your tickets!
Tag: charity
STV Appeal support for Edinburgh's Streetwork
Streetwork is one of ten youth projects to receive STV Appeal funding
The STV Appeal has granted a total of £30,000 to support 10 projects across Scotland, in partnership with the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
One of the projects awarded a £3,000 grant is Streetwork in Edinburgh which works with vulnerable people on the streets providing street based outreach and one to one follow up support to enable a life beyond the street. Streetwork has been working with vulnerable people for over 22 years and through their outreach work aims to break the cycle of crisis and chaos for our most vulnerable people, including young people. The project was nominated by Drummond Community High School.
One of the service users, aged 17, met Streetwork while on the streets and explained the difference it made for him: “Streetwork gave me help in pointing me in the right direction and providing support that I needed. They helped me contact other agencies to help me sort out my flat and debt problems by helping me contact the right people.”
Managed in Scotland by The Wood Foundation, YPI is a UK and North America wide programme which engages young people in social change and empowers them to critically understand their local community.
YPI Scotland, which was delivered in 108 secondary schools across 18 local authorities during the 2013/14 academic year, asked students to research local need within their community and identify charities they felt were making a difference, before advocating on behalf of their chosen cause for the chance to secure the £3000 STV Appeal grant.
Ten winning projects have now been chosen by the STV Appeal to receive £3,000 each from the STV Appeal, all addressing child poverty at a local level:
VSA Young Carers (Aberdeen) nominated by St Machar Academy
Befriend a Child (Aberdeen) nominated by Hazlehead Academy
Streetwork (Edinburgh) nominated by Drummond Community High School
Children’s Holiday Venture (East Lothian) nominated by Knox Academy
Drumchapel Women’s Aid (Glasgow) nominated by Turnbull High School
Haldane Youth Services (West Dunbartonshire) nominated by Vale of Leven Academy
Petal Support (South Lanarkshire) nominated by Cathkin High School
Riding for the Disabled Arran Group (North Ayrshire) nominated by Arran High School
Inverclyde Foodbank (Inverclyde) nominated by St Columba’s High School
Govanhill Family Support Group (Glasgow) nominated by St Benedict’s High School
Now in its fourth year, the STV Appeal is determined to make an even bigger difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. 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.
Claire Gibson, CEO at Streetwork said: “It was a pleasure to support the students from Drummond Community High School in their Youth Philanthropy Initiative. The students were very impressive and immediately engaged with the work of Streetwork and the difference we make. The presentation from Drummond Community High was excellent and we were honoured to be awarded £3,000 towards our work with vulnerable young people in Edinburgh.”
Jonathan Christie, YPI Scotland Manager at The Wood Foundation, said: “The opportunity to work with the STV Appeal, and other likeminded partners, is central to the ongoing growth, development and success of YPI Scotland. Across our 140 participating secondary schools, over 18,000 young people will engage in YPI this year, directing a total of £440,000 to small, local charities; charities providing invaluable support in their community. We are delighted the STV Appeal has chosen to support these ten projects, whilst investing in both youth voice and community social action.”
Elizabeth Partyka from the STV Appeal said: “The ten winning projects all do fantastic work to support children and young people affected by poverty across Scotland. We have really enjoyed the opportunity to work in partnership with the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative and we hope the grants from STV Appeal will help each project make an even bigger difference in their community.”
Granton Food Bank: tons of support from Sainsburys customers
THANK YOU!
Sainsburys Blackhall would like to thank all our colleagues and customers for their support with our weekly collections of food for the Food Bank at Granton Baptist Church.
From January until the end of October Sainsbury customers have helped us distribute 9179kg (nearly 10 metric tonnes) to people and families in food crisis in this area. There were 521 visits to the Food Bank over this period.
Granton food bank said a big thank you again for Sainsburys Blackhall’s support.
Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall
DEC launches Ebola crisis appeal
DEC launches first ever appeal in response to disease outbreak
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) member agencies are scaling up their aid efforts in West Africa where they have already helped over 2.5m people affected by the Ebola crisis. The DEC launched its Ebola Crisis Appeal yesterday with appeals carried by all major UK broadcasters.
The urgent appeal for funds is essential to help member agencies intensify their efforts to stop the explosive spread of the disease and support those affected.
DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “Aid workers are on the front line in the fight against Ebola. Some are facing great risk and local staff and partners are also being ostracised by their friends and families because people are so terrified.
“This is a price they are prepared to pay as they struggle to stop the spread of the disease and support those affected by the crisis. They need your help NOW not only to support medical treatment but to bury the dead safely, care for Ebola orphans, help families disinfect their homes, provide food to people in quarantine and, critically, to teach communities how to keep themselves safe and stop the spread of Ebola.”
This is the first time in the DEC’s 50-year history that it has launched an appeal in response to a disease outbreak: an historic move that reflects the scale of the situation.
The Ebola outbreak is the most severe the world has ever seen: it has so far infected 10,000 people and killed nearly 5,000 more, with the World Health Organisation warning of up to 10,000 new cases a week by December if it is not contained.
All major UK broadcasters carryied the DEC appeal yesterday, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. The appeal is also supported by other major DEC partners including ITN, BT, Post Office, British Bankers Association, Royal Mail, RadioCentre and NewsNow.
In addition to the 2.5 million people reached by DEC member agencies’ efforts, several hundreds of thousands more have been targeted by radio broadcasts and print materials containing life-saving messages on how communities can safeguard themselves from the disease.
Amongst the aid delivered activities so far include:
- ActionAid has reached over 271,000 people in Sierra Leone and Liberia, delivering sanitation supplies to medical facilities, giving food and clothing to affected families and running public information campaigns.
- British Red Cross partners have buried 3,595 victims of Ebola safely and with dignity across Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. They have helped to trace over 41,000 at-risk individuals.
- CAFOD is giving food aid to over 9,000 quarantined families, providing sanitation materials and training faith leaders to raise awareness of safe burial practices.
- CARE International has distributed hygiene packs to 1,100 vulnerable and quarantined households in Sierra Leone, reaching 53,000 people. The kits include soap, buckets fitted with taps and other essential materials.
- Christian Aid is distributing food and hygiene kits to over 2,000 quarantined residents in Ebola hotspots and has reached 1.2 million people with awareness raising work, run by 900 volunteers using existing community networks.
- Concern Worldwide is managing burial teams, educating communities on prevention methods and supporting district health workers. It has reached 170,000 people in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
- Oxfam is providing hygiene kits, giving health and burial workers protective clothing, supplying water to treatment and isolation centres, and co-ordinating door-to-door awareness-raising campaigns. It has reached almost 500,000 people.
- Plan UK is giving psychosocial care to children, and has distributed food and sanitation kits to nearly 45,000 people.
- Save the Children are building and managing health and community care centres where Ebola sufferers can be isolated and treated. It is training health volunteers and providing medical supplies.
- Tearfund is working with over 1,000 churches to curb transmission, reaching over 350,000 people with prevention advice and distributing 2,600 hygiene kits to families.
- World Vision has reached 7,500 people in mosques and churches with disease prevention advice and is providing materials to health workers.
The DEC does not set fundraising targets for its appeals and is always grateful for whatever support the UK public are able to offer.
To make a donation to the DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
What your money could buy:
- £25 can provide cleaning kits including bleach, soap and a bucket for three families at risk from Ebola.
- £50 can provide basic protective clothing such as gloves, masks, boots and gowns for three volunteers supporting people under quarantine.
- £100 can provide training to a community on how to keep themselves safe and help stop the spread of Ebola.
Stay up to date with developments in Ebola, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts with the DEC on twitter:http://twitter.com/decappeal or on Facebook via http://www.facebook.com/DisastersEmergencyCommittee
pictures: Getty Images
Judy Murray launches Scottish Poppy Appeal
Strictly Come Dancing contestant and tennis coach Judy Murray officially launched the 2014 Scottish Poppy Appeal at Stirling Castle today.
Calling for the public to give as much money as they can during the two-week campaign, Judy was joined by an Armed Forces family from Stirling. Billy Adams currently serves in the Royal Navy, wife Cheryl is a Navy veteran and their 11-year-old daughter Megan found musical fame last year as part of the Poppy Girls.
Poppyscotland, the charity that organises the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal, uses money raised to provide vital support to the Armed Forces community in Scotland. This includes specialist advice and employment support, home adaptations, mobility aids and tailored funding packages. The charity is aiming to raise even more money this year to continue to deliver support to those who need it most.
Speaking at the launch, Judy, whose father and both grandfathers served in the military, said: “We wear our poppies in tribute to those who have lost their lives but by donating to the Scottish Poppy Appeal we can also make sure that our Servicemen and women, past and present, and their families get the support that they need and deserve. I hope that people get behind this year’s campaign and give as much as they can because it really will make a difference.”
One of Poppyscotland’s services includes offering specialist advice to help families cope while their loved ones are away on operations. Lieutenant Commander Billy Adams (44) is currently in the Royal Navy, based at Rosyth, but regular deployment means he can be away from home for six or seven months at a time. Wife Cheryl (40) was also in the Navy but left in 1997. Megan has moved house three times while elder sister Caitlin (14) has seen nine house moves and five different schools.
Megan said: “I am really proud of my dad but we all miss him when he’s away. It’s important to support the Scottish Poppy Appeal because I know it will be there to help me and my family if we need it.”
Colin Flinn, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, summed up the campaign, saying: “This year’s campaign is a clear call to action. The Armed Forces community needs the Scottish Poppy Appeal and we need you. We were founded in the aftermath of the First World War and we’re still here today. We need to be there for the long haul so that veterans and their families can turn to us for help at any stage in their lives.”
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest street collection and runs until 11 November. A TV, radio and outdoor advertising campaign that aims to encourage the public to donate is underway. Numerous activities will be taking place during the next two weeks, including projecting poppies on to Stirling Castle on 3 November, lighting up structures and buildings in red and opening Fields of Remembrance in Edinburgh and Inverness.
People can donate to the Scottish Poppy Appeal by putting money in the poppy tins, texting POPPY to 70800 to donate £3* or going online at www.poppyscotland.org.uk
Scotland’s armed forces community still needs the poppy
On the day the 2014 Poppy Appeal is launched Poppyscotland’s Chief Executive Ian McGregor explains why your support is as important as it’s ever been:
This year has been one of significant military anniversaries and milestones, in particular the centenary of the First World War. Without a doubt, the war changed our world and our communities forever.
Scotland punched above its weight in the war effort and, proportionally, lost more men than anywhere else in the UK. There was not a village, town or city left untouched by the war’s devastating impact.
From this horror and destruction grew the poppy, both as the nation’s collective symbol of Remembrance, and as a way to raise money to support those left destitute and with horrendous physical injuries and torturous mental scars.
Although times have changed, the reality of modern-day conflict means Servicemen and women are still risking their lives in our names and there is still a real need to support those who have served, those still serving and their families.
Problems can start for them on the battlefield, they might arise when making the transition to civilian life on leaving the Forces, or they might emerge years later.
Another important and very recent milestone has been the UK Forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, after 13 years of combat operations.
However, the demands placed on our Servicemen and women are by no means restricted to theatres of war. One only has to look at humanitarian efforts to tackle the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, involving British military medics, to see that serving in the Armed Forces can be hazardous in less obvious ways.
The aim of Poppyscotland is to address the problems faced by those in the Armed Forces community, by raising money through the Scottish Poppy Appeal, Scotland’s biggest street collection. The poppy is unique in bringing the country together in a simple yet powerful act of Remembrance but, importantly, it changes lives by providing much-needed support to those who need it most.
Despite the continuing difficult economic environment, the Appeal raised £2.64 million last year, thanks to a wonderfully generous Scottish public. The impact of this support is huge. There are seven common areas that the Armed Forces community can struggle with; Poppyscotland uses money that the public donates to tackle these issues in ways that are both practical and carefully focused.
Tailored Support & Funding – Everyone’s needs are different and these needs can change over time. That’s why Poppyscotland’s support is adapted to suit every individual’s circumstances. The range of support is wide and can include helping with a train fare for a job interview, funding an essential home adaptation or a replacement battery for an electric wheelchair.
Advice – Knowing where to turn for advice when times get tough is the key to a better future. However, with so many different organisations out there, knowing where to start can sometimes be confusing. Poppyscotland puts those in the Armed Forces community in touch with the right people via its welfare centre in Inverness and the Armed Services Advice Project – a major collaborative project with other Service charities, delivered by the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Employment – One of the biggest challenges for those leaving the military is getting a job. Finding suitable work can be difficult and transferring military skills to the civilian workplace is often a daunting prospect for Service leavers. Poppyscotland helps veterans find sustainable civilian careers by offering a range of services from re-training through to supporting those with mental health issues.
Mobility – Whether someone has suffered a battlefield injury, is experiencing a debilitating condition, has an existing injury which is worsening with time or is feeling the effects of getting older, Poppyscotland’s mobility services help veterans live independently by providing occupational therapist assessments, home adaptations and mobility aids.
Respite – The military lifestyle can be tough, particularly for the families of Servicemen and women who are often left at home and can become isolated while a loved one is away on operational duties. A short break can make an enormous difference, both to serving families and to veterans and their dependants. Our Poppy Breaks provide much-needed respite for those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity.
Housing– Finding suitable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing people leaving the Armed Forces. Many go straight from school into the military so finding and keeping their own homes on their return to civilian life can be hugely stressful. Money from the Scottish Poppy Appeal funds home improvements and adaptations, as well as support to specialist housing organisations.
Mental Health – While most leave the Armed Forces in a good frame of mind a significant minority experience mental health problems, which can include nightmares, flashbacks, isolation and insomnia. Poppyscotland works with other specialist organisations to fund and support services for veterans suffering from mental health difficulties.
Putting a donation in a poppy tin this November gives people an opportunity to remember and honour those who lost their lives but it also enables Poppyscotland to change lives for the better. Both history and continuing world events remind us that the Armed Forces community is likely to need the poppy for a long time to come.
To find out more about Poppyscotland and the Scottish Poppy Appeal visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk
Great night for a great cause
Charity catwalk event raises over £3400
Broughton High School student KATHERINE WRIGHT volunteers at the Cancer Research UK charity shop in Stockbridge. The charity stages an annual fundraising fashion show – here’s Katherine’s take on this year’s event:
Cancer Research UK held its fifth annual ‘Charity Chic’ fashion show and pop up shop on Friday 10 October. The event was organised by the local Stockbridge shop where I currently volunteer, a worthwhile and rewarding experience. It was held in the City Art Centre and aimed to both raise money for the charity and bring together customers and friends of the shop. The money raised – a whopping £3413 – will go towards funding ground-breaking research, clinical trials and clinical research nurses, all of which are vital to the fight against cancer.
On arrival, ticket holders received special goody bags filled with treats generously provided by the companies ‘Glow’ and ‘Ilumi’, who sponsored the event. Volunteers at the reception area donned orange tutus and red wigs, and their enthusiasm immediately set the tone for a fun-filled night ahead.
The ‘Commonwealth Catwalk’ was the theme of the evening, showcasing a great variety of clothing and accessories donated to the shop and celebrating the fashion of Commonwealth countries. The audience clapped along while a young woman walked the catwalk in a black sparkly dress, playing the popular hits ‘We will Rock You’ and ‘Five Hundred Miles’ on her set of bagpipes.
The models, all volunteers and friends of the shop, wore a variety of different outfits and confidently strutted their stuff along the catwalk. Elegant dresses, jewelled clutch bags and colourful fascinators were all on display, and the audience enthusiastically clapped and cheered the models on. Eighty-one year-old Betty (below), a cancer survivor herself, was the oldest person to walk the catwalk and described it as “great fun, and a good way to meet some nice people.”
After the fashion show, a selection of pop up stalls gave people the opportunity to buy some of the garments they’d seen on show; as well as a huge variety of other clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. Home-made cupcakes and an assortment of sweet treats were also on sale, and a raffle with generous prizes including a meal at Nandos and a Kenwood ice cream maker proved very popular.
Elaine Lennon (pictured above, left), the organiser of the event and assistant manager at the Stockbridge shop commented: “It’s not just about making money. There’s a real community feel.” Indeed, the open plan room allowed people to mingle and chat, sharing laughs and asking for advice on clothes to buy. Many commented on how well organised the event was, which would not have been possible without the tireless work of an ‘amazing group of volunteers.’
One of the ‘browsers’ was Jill Macgregor, the founder of Glow, a fitness and nutrition company that runs exercise classes across the country. Glow sponsored the event – t’s well known that leading a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of cancer, and Jill is passionate about helping people to do this. Jill has also experienced cancer – she was diagnosed last November and finished her treatment in June. Arms laden with shopping bags and champagne glass in hand, she summed up the evening: “It’s been absolutely fantastic. A great night for a great cause.”
Pictures by GAV YOUNG
Hat’s the way to support older people!
The Big Knit 2014: It’s the final countdown!
There are just three weeks remaining to help Age Scotland create as many little woolly hats as possible for Age UK and innocent’s Big Knit 2014 and to help older people stay warm and well in the winter.
For over a decade, budding milliners across the UK have been supporting Age Scotland and innocent’s Big Knit by knitting funky little hats as part of Age Scotland’s Spread the Warmth campaign. With over a decade of support from knitters up and down the country, The Big Knit has raised vital funds to support local and national winter projects to help older people keep warm in winter.
Knitters in Scotland are being called upon to create little hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles, which will be sold in stores nationwide from February 2015. For each be-hatted smoothie sold, innocent will donate 25p to help Age Scotland fund national and local winter projects. Age Scotland is calling on local knitters to get as many hats as possible to them by 6th November 2014
Last year alone, more than a million hats were lovingly created by knitters up and down the UK, with designs including a giant squid, fruit, soldiers, peas in a pod, cupcakes and an ice cream cone topped with a classic flake.
Alisdair Caulfield, Fundraising Manager at Age Scotland said: “There’s just four weeks left to send us your hats for Age UK and innocent’s The Big Knit and we’re calling on all local knitters to get crafting! We’re extremely grateful for all the hats we’ve received already, which will raise money to help older people in local communities across Scotland.”
Jamie Sterry, innocent drinks, said: “Thanks to everyone who has got involved in The Big Knit so far but with just one month to go, we’re calling on all knitters and those wanting to give it a try to join in too! Each little hat that adorns an innocent smoothie bottle will raise money for Age UK to help older people stay warm in winter, so your support will make a difference.”
Knitters can contact Age Scotland to get a free hat pattern. For those who don’t fancy making a hat themselves, a £3 donation can be made to Age Scotland by texting ’KNIT14’ £3 to 70070.
For more information on The Big Knit contact Age Scotland on 0845 833 0200 or log onto www.agescotland.org.uk. Please send completed hats to Age Scotland at The Big Knit, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR
STV Appeal raises over £2.6m for children in poverty
This year’s STV Appeal has raised an incredible £2,610,427 for children living in poverty in Scotland. Popular presenter Lorraine Kelly revealed the fantastic total live on STV tonight.
The big finale of this year’s STV Appeal, STV Appeal 2014 – The Big Live, brought together celebrities and fundraisers who have made the STV Appeal 2014 an overwhelming success.
Hosted by Lorraine Kelly from STV’s Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow, the programme was packed with live entertainment including music from Nicholas McDonald, celebrity appearances by Des Clarke and Team Scotland, and inspiring fundraising stories from across the country.
Co-presenter Michelle McManus and Fred MacAuley joined Lorraine in Glasgow, with Sean Batty from RBS Gogarburn in Edinburgh, links to Andrea Brymer at Codonas in Aberdeen, and Nicola McAlley in Inverness.
Lorraine also made a surprise appearance on stage at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow during Still Gamewhere Jack and Victor got the audience on their feet to text the STV Appeal, raising over £10,000.
Cheques from a range of fantastic STV Appeal fundraising challenges, including freshnlo Pedal for Scotland, Lorraine Kelly’s Shimmy across Scotland and Sean Batty’s Highland Fling, were presented across the country with Lorraine bringing the evening to a close by revealing the total sum raised for this year’s STV Appeal.
The STV Appeal raises money for children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland.
Lorraine Kelly, presenter and STV Appeal trustee, said: “It has been a fantastic evening here at STV and the perfect way to celebrate the fundraising efforts of this year’s STV Appeal. The incredible amount of money raised tonight and throughout the campaign will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland. A huge thanks to everyone who has given generously to this hugely important cause. There is still time to donate for the STV Appeal, so please keep giving!”
Sir Tom Hunter, STV Appeal trustee, said: “Central to the referendum debate was the issue of social justice and poverty. Once again Scots have backed the STV Appeal brilliantly in the full knowledge that every penny raised up to the first one million pounds is doubled by the Scottish Government and then channelled to support young people challenged by poverty and social justice. Not one penny goes to administration; every last penny goes to helping those most in need. Congratulations to everyone who supported the STV Appeal it’s a fantastic effort from all across Scotland and makes me hugely proud to have co-founded the Appeal.”
Garreth Wood, Trustee of The Wood Foundation, said: “The hard work, commitment and generosity from individuals, communities and businesses means that this fantastic total will go a long way towards helping tackle the poverty crisis facing too many of Scotland’s children. To think that one in five children in Scotland today are living in poverty, families struggling to meet their basic needs, is a particularly difficult statistic to accept and one that, together, we can work to change.
“Over the last year, since The Wood Foundation first became involved with the STV Appeal, it has been a privilege to be involved in events and cheque presentations across Scotland. To witness first-hand the difference these donations are making is overwhelming and to meet some of the inspirational young people who have been affected by child poverty really highlights the key role that local charities play in supporting young people and their families. The Wood Foundation hopes that our continued involvement and contribution to the STV Appeal will make a clear difference to the lives of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.”
Rob Woodward, chief executive of STV, said: “2014 has been an incredible year for the STV Appeal and we have seen some fantastic support from fundraisers all over the country, with everything from charity concerts and quiz nights to bag packing and bake sales taking place to raise money and awareness for children affected by poverty in Scotland.
“The STV Appeal is committed to investing in projects that will make a real difference in their lives and the amazing total of £2,610,427 will go a long way to achieving this. We could not have done this without the support of local communities, corporate fundraisers and STV viewers and we would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously to this year’s STV Appeal.”
Port of Leith raises nearly £2000 for Macmillan
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has raised nearly £2000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
PoLHA’s sheltered housing developments St Nicholas Court, Hermitage Court and Jameson Place hosted events for their residents and locals as part of the charity’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ initiative – and they raised £1749.00 between them!
Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager who manages the St Nicholas Court complex, said: “We are delighted so many people came along to help makes the coffee mornings a success. Without their generosity we would not have been able to raise such a vast amount of money to this fantastic cause.”
PoLHA also held a coffee morning for staff at its Constitution Street office raising a further £220.
Pictured: Ian and May Vanhagen and Martin Hunter