STV Appeal cash for Fresh Start

Local homeless resettlement charity, Fresh Start has received £2,000 from the STV Appeal 2013.

Ferry Road Drive-based Fresh Start works in partnership with churches, local communities and volunteers in Edinburgh to create, develop and provide services that support the resettlement of people who have been homeless. The charity helps them get a fresh start by providing essential household goods, practical and social support and training opportunities.

The STV Appeal funding will be used to help expand the charity’s flagship Starter Pack service, which provides the basics for new households. Last year, Fresh Start made up and distributed nearly 8,800 Starter Packs, helping families and individuals turn their empty houses into a home. This year the charity hopes to distribute 10,000, including the newly launched Food Packs.

The STV Appeal was set up in 2011 by STV and The Hunter Foundation and in 2013 the Wood Family Trust pledged its support to the Appeal. Now in its third year, the STV Appeal has raised a total of £5.8million which has been invested in 163 big and small community projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, helping over 18,000 children. Every penny raised stays in Scotland and goes directly towards helping the children who need it most.

One in five children across Scotland live in poverty – and for some communities that figure is even worse. In parts of the country every second family is living in poverty meaning that in every community there will be a family struggling to feed its kids, a family struggling to clothe them in the winter, a family struggling just to make ends meet. The STV Appeal works in communities all over Scotland helping those young people and giving them the same opportunity that other children take for granted. Working at a local level, the STV Appeal has helped projects in every local authority.

Keith Robertson, Managing Director of Fresh Start, said: “Moving into a new home, especially after being homeless, can bring many financial burdens. Our Starter Packs aim to reduce this burden and give people the essentials they need to settle in to their new homes. They provide the basics for new households to survive, for example bedding to keep warm at night, curtains to close the world out, crockery to eat your dinner on.”

Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The third year of the STV Appeal has been our most successful yet. With the help of our generous supporters and fantastic fundraising efforts taking place right across Scotland we have now raised over £5.8m. The money donated to the STV Appeal stays right here in Scotland and will help make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep.”

Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The STV Appeal is for Scotland by Scotland’s people who truly have stepped up to support our work in trying to beat the horror that is child poverty here in Scotland. This is a long haul but at the end of the day we can and we will eradicate the impacts poverty has on Scotland’s young people. Every single penny we raise goes directly to tackling the issue of child poverty across all of Scotland something I’m really proud of.”

Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “This is the Wood Family Trust’s first year of involvement with the STV Appeal to help tackle the issue of child poverty in Scotland. We are delighted to be part of the fundraising endeavours of so many, which have enabled the distribution of such significant financial support to local projects in our own communities. We are optimistic that with the generous total raised by supporters of the STV Appeal, combined with the on-going hard work and dedication seen in communities across Scotland, the lives of children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland can, and will, be changed for the better.”

STV Appeal trustee Lorraine Kelly presenting The Big Live

Business as usual for rescue centres over Christmas

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre had 212 animals in their care this Christmas Day. It was business as usual for the dedicated staff at the charity’s centre in Balerno, which is open to the public all year round.

Manager Diane Stewart said, “It’s a heartbreaking reality that there are
lots of pets without loving homes to call their own this Christmas time.
“However, thanks to our dedicated staff, no animal in our care spent
Christmas Day alone and we even made sure they all got a little treat
from Santa.

“The animals here are relying on us as they don’t have anywhere else to
go, so it’s simply not an option for us to close over the holidays. We’ll be here for them throughout Christmas and New Year, ensuring they’re fed, watered and exercised every day as usual.

“There’s also the task of washing down the kennels, cleaning out the catteries and other enclosures and making sure animals receive any necessary vet treatment.

“Our inspectors and animal rescue officers will continue to rescue abused, abandoned, injured and neglected animals throughout the festive period so we also need to be on-hand to take in any new arrivals and offer them a place of safety.

“We aren’t rehoming young animals such as puppies and kittens between 19
December and 3 January to prevent them being taken on by someone who
just wants a new pet for Christmas, but those genuinely wishing to offer
a young animal a permanent home can come along to meet them and they can
be reserved.

“There are also lots of other pets in our care who are ready and waiting to find their forever homes right now.

“People are always welcome to pop in to our centres, whether it’s to meet an animal they’re interested in rehoming, donate food or toys for our homeless pets, or simply just to say hello.”

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is open from 10am-4pm seven days a week.

Don’t let loneliness ruin Christmas

Age Scotland is calling on older people in North Edinburgh who feel lonely or who face difficulties over the Christmas holiday to make use of Silver Line Scotland, a new free* national helpline offering information, friendship and advice.

0800 4 70 80 90

The service, which is delivered in partnership by Age Scotland and Esther Rantzen’s charity The Silver Line Helpline, will be taking calls all day and every day during the holiday period, and throughout 2014.

Age Scotland Chief Executive Brian Sloan said: “Loneliness can hit hard at this time of year, with older people who live alone, or who have caring responsibilities, being particularly vulnerable. Callers to Silver Line Scotland will be greeted by someone who is friendly and helpful, and who understands that there’s no shame or stigma in admitting that you feel lonely. But the service is also there for older people, and their friends, families and carers, who just want practical advice and information.”

Topics that Silver Line Scotland can assist with include welfare benefits, community care, home safety and repairs, accessing health services and information about local groups and services for older people.

The Charity also publishes ‘Hot Tips,’ a free 2014 calendar that offers information and advice to help older people stay safe, well and comfortable all year round. Calendars are available in libraries, GP’s surgeries and from some MSP’s constituency offices.

TRIM’s stamp of approval for Epilepsy Scotland

Local group wants your used postage stamps

Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) are collecting used postage stamps to support charity Epilepsy Scotland.

TRIM chairman Robert Pearson said: “We are always willing to do what we can to help different charities, this time epilepsy Scotland needs our help.

“They need your stamps from Christmas cards and letters, so when you get your mail and it has a stamp on if, please simply cut around it leaving a one inch border and hand them in to the community shop on Pennywell Road. The more Epilepsy Scotland receive the more cash they will get – whether it’s first class, second class or pack stamps, they will accept them all.”

HOt HOt HOt news from Fresh Start!

All the latest from Fresh Start, the resettlement charity based in Ferry Road Drive:

Edinburgh’s leading resettlement charity is calling on city residents to dig deep this Christmas to ensure previously homeless families can have a ‘HO-t, HO-t, HO-t’ meal.

Fresh Start has ‘ignited’ its annual Cookers for Christmas appeal and is calling on 2,400 Capital residents to donate just £5 to help the charity provide cookers for 150 families and individuals. The charity needs less than 1% of Edinburgh residents to donate just £5 to its annual Cookers for Christmas Appeal to ensure it meets last year’s total.

Keith Robertson, Managing Director at Fresh Start, said: “Help make someone’s Christmas. If one if every 200 people in Edinburgh donated just £5 to our appeal, we’d be able to provide cookers for 150 families.

“This year, thanks to our new cookers re-use project, we’ll be able to help more people than ever before – but we’re only able to do this with your help.”

He added: “Dickensian as it may sound, there will be families and individuals in Edinburgh this Christmas who sit down to a cold Christmas dinner. For families who have recently been housed, a cooker is often too expensive. But with your help we can ensure some of those households don’t have to sit down to a cold meal again.”

Keith Robertson added: “Help make someone’s Christmas by donating on our Fresh Start Cookers for Christmas Just Giving Page, and spread the word through social media using #cookersforchristmas”

The charity’s new innovative cooker re-use service means it will be able to help many more people than in previous years. Historically the Cookers for Christmas donations have used to buy new cookers but Fresh Start have opened a new service – The Food Station.

Launched in September, The Food Station hosts a new Electrical Workshop where the charity can now test donated cookers which will be passed onto clients, meaning it can increase the number of people it can help.

The Food Station is a wider project aimed at addressing health inequalities, with new Food Packs being prepared there, cooking and budgeting classes, and an allotment to provide food for the cooking classes.

Nearly 600 food packs have already been distributed to Edinburgh families and individuals since the launch of the new service to ensure previously homeless households can enjoy a hot, home cooked meal when they move into their new home.

The decision to deliver the new services around food came after people who had been homeless said they struggled to provide home cooked food for themselves and their families when they moved into a new home, due to the costs involved in setting up a house.

The charity also said the current economic climate played a big part in people facing difficulties feeding themselves and their families.

Speaking at the launch of the Food Station service, Keith Robertson said: “I am delighted we can build on the services we already have at Fresh Start and develop them under one roof. Thanks to funding from a variety of sources, we can now reach out to even more people who are going through the transition from being homeless to getting a new home.”

The innovative new services received praise from the Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Councillor Donald Wilson, who said: “Fresh Start has long been a part of the homelessness services in Edinburgh since it was set up in 1999, delivering a handful of packs to people who were homeless in the city.

“Since then it has become significant part of the solution for homeless people looking to settle into a new house, delivering around 2,000 Starter Packs each year and providing a range of services. This new Food Station and Food Pack service is an innovative development and will help people who have been homeless have a home cooked meal from the off, as well as teach them a range of new skills.”

The service will be run from new premises at Harrison Place, Edinburgh, which is owned by the Phoenix Club, a small charity supporting people with disabilities. The Food Station will house:

· A new Electrical Workshop to test donated cookers, which will then be passed on to clients.

· A new Food Packs service which will give individuals and families the basics to make a hot, cooked meal in the first days of moving into a new house. This service is an extension of the current Starter Packs service operated by Fresh Start.

· The charity will also deliver cookery classes to help people learn to cook meals on a small budget.

· An allotment has also been created in the garden, which will provide food for the cookery classes.

Fresh Start’s new Development Worker, Angus Maclean, who comes from a homelessness and care services background, will oversee the project at Harrison Gardens.

Keith Robertson added: “The transition between being homeless and moving into a new home can often bring challenges such as financial burdens so we want to give people the best possible start in their new lives by providing them with the essentials as well as offering them support with cooking, food budgeting and training opportunities. The support from our funders and other local community projects has been a key to enabling the Food Station to open its doors.”

Fresh Start hopes to help over 60 people a year learn new cooking skills. The charity also aims to give around 150 people a cooker so they can cook for themselves.

The charity has received funding from the National Lottery Grant, NHS Lothian, Zero Waste Scotland, Rotary Club of Edinburgh and Hibbert Family Foundation. They have received help from Lloyds Banking Group, Bield Housing Association, John Redpath Electrical Contractors, G A Helmore Electricians, and CitySprint.

Fresh Start will work closely with Bethany Christian Trust and City of Edinburgh Council to ensure cookers and food reach the people that need them most. The cookery classes will be delivered and developed in partnership with Edinburgh Cyrenians Good Food Project.

To donate visit Fresh Start’s Just Giving Page:

http://www.justgiving.com/Fresh-Start-Cookers-for-Christmas-2013

Winter Open Day at Redhall tomorrow

Redhall Walled Garden is holding a community Winter Open Day tomorrow (Sunday 8 December) from 12-5pm.

To summarise what’s on offer :-

Spot the snowman quiz & trail
Children’s Activities
Holly Wreaths for sale
Cream Teas
Beautiful garden

Jan Cameron (Team leader)

Redhall Walled Garden

97 Lanark Road, Edinburgh EH14 2LZ

0131 443 0946

The garden is open to the public Monday- Friday 9am – 3:30pm

To find out more about Redhall see our video on Youtube click on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGLGSksilX0

or attend our Information day on the first Wednesday of every month – phone to book.

SSPCA reminder: a pet’s not just for Christmas

Hate to remind you, but Christmas Day is FOUR WEEKS TODAY (I know, I know!) – the Scottish SPCA has issued a seasonal reminder about giving pets as Christmas gifts:

The Scottish SPCA is warning of the dangers of giving animals as Christmas gifts as the charity prepares for one of its busiest times of year. Scotland’s animal welfare charity has also revealed some of the most ridiculous excuses owners have used when trying to give up their pets.

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, “Every year we stress that pets should never be bought on a whim or given as surprise gifts, but some people clearly aren’t getting the message.

“Sadly, our animal rescue and rehoming centres are full every Christmas and, shockingly, some owners see our centres as dumping grounds and animals as disposable items they can just give away.

“This is particularly evident over the festive period and in the months that follow and the saddest cases are when people try to give up their older dog to make way for a Christmas puppy. Recently we were given a hard luck story and took in an elderly dog and then found out the owners had visited another charity and bought a pup and, sadly, this happens often.

“One owner even told us they didn’t want their dog making their house untidy when they had guests over for Christmas, which is just ludicrous.”

The Scottish SPCA will stop rehoming puppies, kittens and baby animals between 19 December and 3 January to avoid people taking on pets to give away as gifts.

Chief Supt. Flynn added, “We have to ensure our rescue animals aren’t being taken on by someone who just wants a new pet for Christmas or a cute animal to give as a present without fully thinking through their decision.

“However, our animal rescue and rehoming centres will be open to the public every day, including Christmas Day, and young animals can be reserved during this time.

“We’ll continue to be asked to take in puppies, kittens and other pets given as presents once the novelty has worn off. In other cases, these pets are abandoned and left to fend for themselves which is extremely callous as well as a criminal offence.

“Our message is that taking on a pet is a long-term decision and potential owners should ensure they have the time, commitment and financial resources required. Animals simply are not presents which can be given on Christmas Day and forgotten about soon afterwards.”

Inspector Janet Proudlock with puppy PIC: SSPCA — Inspector Janet Proudlock with puppy
PIC: SSPCA

Beads of Courage at Sick Kids

Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children was the first Scottish hospital to adopt Beads of Courage, a programme designed to boost the bravery of sick children – and it’s now welcomed donations totalling nearly £10,000.

The programme sees young patients in the oncology and haematology service at the RHSC receive a strand with beads spelling out their name. Beads will then be added for each procedure the children go through, such as blood tests, lumbar punctures, chemotherapy and overnight stays.

Last month, the programme – which has been funded by Be Child Cancer Aware – received donations from charitable organisation Spifox Too, sixth year pupils at Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools and from the family of current patient Melissa Crouch. The three donations totalling £9,750, ensure that this innovative and positive support tool for children with cancer can continue.

During a visit to the hospital, Steph Dorward, Suzanne Graham and Hannah Ross from Spifox Too, met eight-year-old Tabitha Lawson, a pupil at Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, along with ward staff.

Jenny Tomes, clinical psychologist, NHS Lothian, said: “’Using the Beads of Courage is a wonderful way of helping children to cope with procedures by rewarding their courage, encouraging coping strategies, and providing a focus for discussion of their experiences.

“It’s great to see how well the scheme has been received by the children and we’d like to reiterate our thanks once again for these generous donations which will enable the scheme to continue.”

John Drummond, Chairman of Be Child Cancer Aware, said: “Coming to terms with cancer or haematology disease is a very difficult and confusing time, especially for children. Beads of Courage gives children a tangible way to show what they go through and how brave they’ve been. The programme gives the children the power to take control and should never be underestimated.”

Steph Dorward, from Spifox Too, added: “It was a great opportunity for three of us from the Spifox Too committee to be able to see the Beads of Courage programme in action, thanks to all that facilitated the day and the visit certainly underlined the fantastic work that all at RHSC do.”

Let’s hear it for the girls!

Fresh Start honours volunteers’ community spirit

Hundreds of Edinburgh’s homeless households have been helped settle into their new homes thanks to generosity of local schoolchildren – who were recently honoured for their community spirit.

St George’s Lower School for Girls received a Community Volunteer Award from Edinburgh’s West pilton-based homelessness resettlement charity Fresh Start for its support in helping previously homeless families make a house a home.

Children from the school have collected items to go in Fresh Start’s Starter Packs for the last few years, providing invaluable support for the charity, which survives on donations to be able to make up the packs.

Every year, Fresh Start makes up and distributes around 9,000 packs, which provide the basics for new households to survive.

Keith Robertson, Managing Director, said: “The support of St George’s Lower School has meant hundreds of new households in Edinburgh have been able to make a house a home. These packs provide basics like bedding to keep warm at night, curtains to close the world out, crockery to eat dinner on. Without the kind of community spirit show by St George’s Lower School, we would struggle to continue to be able to provide the support we do.”

Head of Lower School Marjorie Hall said: “It’s been an honour to help provide goods for the packs – all the school children who have taken part have learnt a lot. They make houses to provide the goods in, which helps them to make the connection between being homeless and getting a house. It’s an important life lesson for them – that homelessness can happen to anyone.”

The school’s award was one of a number of awards, given out at the charity’s annual Volunteer Awards on Friday (November 8).

Every year Fresh Start volunteers, staff and directors nominate volunteers to get an award – Starter Pack Volunteer, Hit Squad Volunteer, Church Representative Volunteer, Community Volunteer and Corporate Volunteer.

Other award winners were:

Evelyn Scott from Colinton, who received an award for being an outstanding Starter Pack volunteer.
Tony Shephard from Abbeyhill, who received an award for being an outstanding Hit Squad volunteer. These volunteers help to decorate homes of Fresh Start clients.
Jack Simpson from Craiglockhart, who received an award for his work as a Church Representative.
The award for Corporate Volunteers went to Lloyds Banking Group.

Keith Robertson added: “At Fresh Start we depend on the support of our volunteers and the donations that come in, which is why we take a moment each year to honour those who help us so much.”

Mo! mo! mo! – hirsute runners hit Holyrood Park!

Over a thousand bewhiskered MoRunners from across the city converged on Holyrood Park for the Edinburgh MoRun on Saturday 9 Novemner, raising an estimated £30,000 for charity.

Weather held for most of the race with some showers but the cold temperature were quickly forgotten as the runners were tackling Arthur’s Seat hill.

The first male to cross the line was Danny White who completed the 5k course in an impressive 18.01 minutes, followed shortly after by the female winner Fionna Barrow who finished in 23:12 minutes.

For the 10k, Hedwig Ponjee finished it in 42:08 for the first female and Tom Wilson in an astonishing 36:50 minutes as first male.

Every runner who enters the run wears a moustache for the event, which raises for funds for Movember charity, and many dressed in fancy dress to take on the 5k or 10k route.

Dave Krangel, Edinburgh MoRun Race Director, said: “We were delighted at the success of the first ever Edinburgh MoRun, with thousands of MoRunners turning up to Holyrood Park in awesome fancy dress and comedy moustaches.

“MoRunning is about enjoying running with friends and family whilst raising funds for Movember to help fight men’s cancers. The atmosphere in Edinburgh was buzzing and we hope to have raised around £30 000 for charity”.

The Edinburgh MoRun is one of 11 MoRuns taking place in parks across Scotland and the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland during Movember.

A full list of results and winners is available on the MoRunning website at http://edinburgh.mo-running.com

Runners can also follow @mo_running on Twitter or join the MoRunning Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/morunning