charity – Page 79 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Protesters blockade Salvation Army store

Anti-poverty protestors blockaded Edinburgh’s main Salvation Army shop for three hours last Saturday (5th April) over the charity’s support of the Westminster government’s ‘work for benefits’ scheme. The demonstrators – the group included members of local campaigning group North Edinburgh Fights Back – displayed a giant banner proclaiming IF YOU EXPLOIT US, WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN at the Earl Grey Street shop.

Dubbed The Starvation Army by its opponents, Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty (ECAP) says the Salvation Army is heavily involved nationally in the government’s controversial work-for-your-benefits schemes, and in Edinburgh is believed to be the main work placement for claimants ordered to participate in the Mandatory Work Activity scheme, administered by the provider learndirect.

ECAP claim The Salvation Army is also very involved in the Work Programme, under which even disabled claimants can be forced onto workfare. Claimants unable to take part in this unpaid work, or who decline to work for no pay, face having their benefits stopped under the government’s “enhanced sanctions” regime.

ECAP say the blockade was a success – the shop closed for a time and at least two women turned away and took their bag of donations to the nearby Shelter shop when they were informed of the ‘Sally Army’s’ involvement in workfare.

“We felt our action was very successful. We shut down a key workfare user for three hours at the busiest time of the week. And we gave out hundreds of leaflets to passers-by, stressing that workfare is an attack on the wages and conditions of all workers, and many people reacted positively,” said Esther McDonald of Edinburgh Coalition Ágainst Poverty.

The protest was aimed at galvanising opposition to the government’s plan for a new workfare scheme, Community Work Placements, which extends the period of compulsory work-for-benefits to six months. A Britain-wide week of action, co-ordinated through Boycott Workfare has seen actions in many towns and cities. On 31st March in London protestors invaded the YMCA and sang “Forced to work at the Y-M-C-A”.

“The Community Work Placements scheme is already in trouble, ” say ECAP. “Many charities have already said they will not participate – even the Salvation Army won’t touch it – and its start date has been postponed. We urge all charities and voluntary organisations to boycott the scheme. Research shows that workfare does not help the unemployed find jobs and being unemployed is not a crime.

The main contract for the Community Work Placements scheme in Scotland does not yet seem to have been awarded – we are researching which organisation is to be involved as we plan to take direct action against them and make this workfare scheme unworkable.”

For more information see:

www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk

www.boycottworkfare.org

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty and Boycott Workfare are both on Facebook and on Twitter

Tonight’s the night for get2gether

New dates have been announced for a special club night in Edinburgh for local adults living with a disability, following the success of the first event earlier this year.

The next club night takes place tonight (Thursday 10 April, followed by June 12, August 14, October 16 and December 11.

The charity get2gether organises the club nights, which take place at the Cav nightclub. The event is an opportunity for people from Edinburgh and the Lothians living with a disability to meet up and make new friends.

get2gether is an Edinburgh-based organisation that arranges ordinary social activities in ordinary places for disabled people. The charity – which currently has over 70 local members – believes that everyone deserves the same opportunities for love and friendship.

Marion Smith, Project Co-ordintor, said: “Our launch night was a fantastic success with around 150 people coming along. There was a great atmosphere with people still dancing at 12.30pm! We’re delighted to release the rest of the club night dates for this year as we’re sure there are lots more people who will want to come once word spreads about how great they are.”

She added: “The nights are a great way for people, who are maybe not sure about going to a mainstream club night, to meet new people in a fun and safe place. After attending our events we hope that they will gain more confidence about going out and meeting new people. “

One member said: “It’s given me opportunities to do things I wouldn’t otherwise get to do.”

The club nights are free to members and £5 for non-members. The night runs from 8pm – 1am. To book a ticket or to find out more, email info@dates-n-mates-lothian.co.uk or phone Marion or Ellie on 07970 000454.

To find out more about the group – and the other events they run – visit http://get2gether.org.uk/

Dean’s gonna be an Edinburgh baton bearer!

Lucky nominees from across Edinburgh found out today that they have been chosen to be a baton bearer on 14 June when the Queen’s Baton Relay reaches the city on the first day of its Commonwealth Games journey around Scotland – and among Edinburgh’s representatives will be Dean Reill, champion fundraiser of Leith’s MS Therapy Centre.

Up to 4,000 batonbearers from all 32 local authorities in Scotland were notified by email this morning that they will join the relay in more than 400 Scottish communities for 40 days.

Community baton bearers were selected by independent panels, who have considered people’s achievements against the odds, their mentoring of younger people, contributions to community and youth sport, and those who make a difference through volunteering and community support.

For the first time in the history of any Queen’s Baton Relay, all 545 secondary schools in Scotland were invited to nominate a pupil to participate as a batonbearer.

Cllr Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals & Events Champion, said: “We are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming the baton to Edinburgh – and to Scotland – on 14 June. We have over 100 baton bearers, including a pupil from every secondary school, each of whom will play an important part in the celebrations taking place throughout the day.

“We’ve worked very hard with the organisers to send the baton to as many parts of the city as possible and to allow baton bearers to run through their own communities, cheered on by their friends and family. I was fortunate enough to be on the selection committee for Edinburgh and was hugely impressed with the standard of nominations. I have no doubt our baton bearers will do themselves and their city proud.”

Among the Edinburgh citizens receiving the happy news today was MS Therapy Champion Dean Reilly.

Dean (pictured above) was diagnosed with MS in October 2012, after losing the sight in one eye. Since then, he has raised awareness of MS and championed the services offered at the MS Therapy Centre which supports Edinburgh and the Lothians. He has taken up boxing, completed 4 10k runs, the Mighty Deer Stalker and the Edinburgh marathon, raising over £5,000 for the centre. He also writes a blog, raising awareness of MS, and has remained incredibly positive and pro-active since being diagnosed – and he’s just fought Steve ‘Celtic Warrior’ Collins in a fundraising charity boxing match!

Also selected today was Lynne McNicoll (pictured above) , who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for children affected by cancer in the Edinburgh area with her charity, It’s Good 2 Give. Her dedication for raising money for others is 24/7, 365 days a year. Lynne volunteers every minute, takes no pay and is a pillar of the Edinburgh community. She said: “I’m really delighted to be chosen to be a baton bearer. Welcoming the Baton to Scotland will an amazing opportunity and I just can’t wait. I’m currently in training for a five kilometer race which will hopefully help me get fit in time for the Queen’s Baton Relay!”

News of more local baton bearers will follow, but in the meantime you can follow the build up to to the Edinburgh leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay on social media using the hashtag #EdinBatonRelay.

To follow the baton visit www.glasgow2014.com/batonrelay

Tea hee! Mad hatters raise a cup to toast MSTC

MSTC fundraisers Louise and Chris Liddell

The Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Edinburgh celebrates its 30th anniversary today with a city-wide Mad Hatters’ Tea Party. The fundraiser sees friends and supporters of the Centre baking cakes and wearing silly hats all to raise money for a very good cause.

With nearly 2,500 people in the Lothians living with the debilitating condition of multiple sclerosis, the MS Therapy Centre provides a life-line for many. Based in Swanfield in Leith, the Centre provides practical and emotional support and only exists because of the generosity of others.

Nancy Campbell the operations manager at the Centre said: “We want everyone to dig out their hats and teapots and host a mad hatters’ tea party for the MS Therapy Centre. It’s meant to be lots of fun and there’s plenty of opportunity to be creative – from cake decoration through to competitions. We just ask that everyone who attends a tea party makes a donation to our Centre.”

The MS Therapy Centre is a charity providing help and practical therapies such as physiotherapy, complementary therapies and oxygen therapy as well as emotional support and advice.

For further info visit www.mstc-lothian.org.uk

You couldn’t make it up: No makeup selfies raise £8m for Cancer Research!

It’s been a social media phenomenon that’s swept the country – even the Scottish government has joined in the fun. The ‘no makeup selfie’ is one of those daft ideas that just takes off – and it’s raised over £8m for a cancer charity in just six days!

Cancer Research UK did not start the campaign – but they’re sure glad someone did!

Last Tuesday, after people began tweeting their #nomakeupselfie pictures and asking how they could use them to make a difference to Cancer Research UK’s work, the charity posted a message on its Facebook and Twitter pages with information about how to support its work to beat cancer sooner.

Since then, Cancer Research UK has received an unprecedented increase in the volume of donations and visits to the website.

The money raised will enable Cancer Research UK to carry out more research sooner, including ten clinical trials which last Tuesday it did not have money to fully fund!

Cancer Research UK supports over 200 clinical trials looking for better and kinder treatments for all types of cancer, and Chief Executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support people have been showing us through the #nomakeupselfie trend.

“We don’t receive any government funding for our research and so it’s phenomenal to think that the generosity of the public is enabling us to fund critical research that we didn’t have the money for six days ago. Being able to fund more trials will bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

“It’s been an exciting week, and we’d just like to thank everyone again for their support. If people would like to support our work to beat cancer sooner, they can visit www.cruk.org.”

The Yard is Tods Murray Charity of the Year

Tods Murray Solicitors have announced their Charity of the Year for 2014 will be The Yard – the purpose-built indoor and outdoor adventure playground in Edinburgh for children and young people with disabilities.

The Yard was one of three charities shortlisted and was subsequently selected by a staff vote in both the Tods Murray Glasgow and Edinburgh offices.

The Yard was established in 1986 and is a unique and dynamic adventure play centre experienced every year by more than 1600 children and young people with disabilities. Located in Eyre Place Lane, doors open daily throughout the year to schools, families, disabled children and young people, their siblings and friends.

The Yard aims to provide care, support, fun and friendship in equal measure whilst encouraging families to let go and promote challenge, personal growth and supported independence for their children. The charity also featured on BBC’s DIY SOS show The Big Build which saw TV celebrity Nick Knowles and local tradespeople assist in revamping the centre.

Speaking after the announcement, Tods Murray Executive Partner and Head of Third Sector David Dunsire said: “We are very proud of our Charity of the Year programme which has assisted local charities for a number of years. This year staff really took to the Yard and its’ story so far. It is a relatively small charity and we look forward to contributing during 2014 through volunteering, fundraising and awareness raising.”

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Yard welcomed the partnership, adding: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Charity of the Year for Tods Murray. Demand for our services is at an all-time high and the support of Tods Murray through fundraising and volunteering will really help us meet this.”

SANDS raising funds at Royston Wardieburn

SANDS Lothians are holding a fun Fitness Fundraiser event with stalls at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Saturday 5 April from 11am.

Stalls include Cake n Candy, Tombola, Handmade cards by Glitter ‘N’ Glue by Samantha Pardue, Room scenter bears by Jackie, Beat the goalie, raffles, face painting and more …

SANDS Lothians, the charity which offers support to bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a baby, raised over £500 at last year’s event and they are very keen to top that target next month!

Hands up for St Columba’s!

St Columba’s calls for new volunteers

St Columba’s Hospice is calling on the community to put their hands up and become a volunteer to help overcome an urgent shortage in volunteering support when the Hospice returns to it’s original Boswalll Road home in Trinity this Spring.

The Hospice relies on a team of over 500 volunteers to deliver vital services such as transporting patients from their homes to the Day Hospice, arranging flowers to brighten the patient wards and working in the café to provide refreshments to visiting families and friends.

St Columba’s Hospice has vacancies across all volunteering areas, but particularly needs volunteers for the new Café areas, one of which will be open 12 hours per day, seven days per week. There are currently a number of slots available, each lasting about 3 hours per week or fortnight. Previous experience of working in this area would be desirable.

There are also midweek daytime volunteer opportunities in our Ward area. So if you think you could play a part in the history of St Columba’s Hospice and offer some of your time as a volunteer, our Volunteer Services Team will be delighted to hear from you.

Bill Kerr, Volunteer Services Manager said: “Volunteers have always been an important part of St Columba’s Hospice; in fact, we were founded by them back in 1977! This is an opportunity for volunteers to join us at one of the most exciting times in our history.

“We provide full training for all volunteers and we have lots of social gatherings and events to thank volunteers for their contribution. If you’ve ever thought about volunteering then please get in touch with us, even if you can only spare a couple of hours every fortnight we’d love to hear from you.

“Volunteering is a great way to meet people, learn new skills and of course, help support a local charity like St Columba’s Hospice. There is a huge feeling of excitement and anticipation as we prepare to return to our new purpose-build Hospice, so there’s never been a better time to volunteer.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer for St Columba’s Hospice

call the Volunteer Services Team on 0131 551 7711

or email vol@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.

Two Georges all set for Death Valley charity challenge

George Stewart (75) and his son George Junior (40) are all set for their epic cycle journey taking them from Las Vegas to Los Angeles via Death Valley, in support of Barnardo’s Children’s Charity. This is no ordinary journey, however – it’s a journey that George Senior has literally had his heart set on completing.

George Senior is a resilient man, surviving five major strokes, learning to walk and talk again, whilst also coping with a heart bypass. Given this DNA, you begin to understand where George Junior gets his energy and drive from!

Speaking ahead of the fundraising charity silent auction he has organised
in the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh tonight (Thursday 27 February) George Junior, who works at Edinburgh College Granton Campus on the waterfront, said: “I can hardly believe we have got here. It’s only a week until we arrive in the States to set off on our life-changing adventure. My dad and I have cycled all of our lives and wanted to give something back. We’ve talked about creating lasting memories from this trip – it’s certainly something dad and I will never forget, but more importantly the funds we raise will help transform the lives of children supported by Barnardo’s, which we know will help create life chances these children will never forget too.”

The support for the challenge has been fantastic, with local businesses, the staff and students at Edinburgh College lending their support through cash pledges and event and equipment sponsorship.

With just seven days to go before the trip gets underway, the Two Georges are looking to beat their £6,000, or £5.45 per kilometer target, so a final push can help get them there. Tickets for the auction are still available via the
Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DeathValleyCyclewithBarnardos/432013613547277

or donations can be made via their Virgin “just giving” page:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser

Run for a reason with Macmillan

Macmillan Cancer Support is urging people to look out their trainers and sign up to the Scotland Kilomathon in Edinburgh on Sunday 16 March.

There are three Kilomathon distances to choose from – the 13.1k is an excellent distance for those looking to step-up from a 10k and training for a half/marathon, or looking for a bridging gap between a 10k & a half marathon. The 6.55k is an ideal step-up from a 5k, or as a stepping stone to the 10k distance. The 2.62k junior race is a fun race for kids and takes place in Murrayfield Stadium, the home of Scottish Rugby.

Runners take in the historic Royal Yacht Britannia, picturesque Victoria Park and enjoy tranquil cycle paths before a fantastic finish in front of the West Stand at Murrayfield Stadium.

Fundraising Manager for Edinburgh, Jayne Forbes, said: “The Kilomathon is a fantastic way to support Macmillan and there is a choice of distances for all the family.

“Knowing that every mile you cover is raising money for people affected by cancer will give you real motivation to keep going with your fitness programme. We provide comprehensive training, nutrition and kit advice, as well as very simple ideas to raise money.”

All the money raised from the run will be used to fund Macmillan’s vital cancer services, from specialist nurses and doctors, to help and advice for people who have financial problems as a result of their cancer.

For more information on taking on a run for Macmillan email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk or call 0300 1000 200. For details of all Macmillan running events go to www.macmillan.org.uk/running