Tag: charity

Charity challenge cash for Maggies Centre

Buccleuch Property has raised £17,000 for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres following fundraising efforts at the Buccleuch Property Challenge.

More than 150 property professionals from across the UK took part in the annual outdoor adrenalin challenge, at the Duke of Buccleuch’s Drumlanrig Castle and Queensberry Estate. Participants – who entered in teams of three – endured a six-hour test of mental and physical endurance, split into three stages of running, mountain biking and orienteering.

The Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) property team raised the highest individual amount for the Challenge and were rewarded with three bottles of Champagne for their efforts.

Maggie’s was chosen as this year’s nominated charity by the Buccleuch Property team. Maggie’s offers free emotional, practical and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends. Maggie’s is there for people at any stage of any type of cancer and no appointments are necessary. Maggie’s Edinburgh was the first Maggie’s Centre, opened in 1996, and is located at Western General Hospital.

Buccleuch Property managing director David Peck said: “We have supported Maggie’s as part of a year-long fundraising campaign. The centres provide unrivalled support to anyone affected by cancer and are helping thousands of people each year. It is hard to imagine what it would be like without charities, such as Maggie’s and we hope our fundraising efforts will go some way to helping them continue to provide this essential support.”

Aoife McDonogh, Corporate Relationship Manager at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, said: “We rely on the support of organisations such as Buccleuch Property, in order for us to continue to support those affected by cancer. The Challenge raised an exceptional amount and we are extremely grateful to Buccleuch Property and all the teams who took part for their fundraising efforts.”

Maggies

Bank interest in North Edinburgh News

rbs2

The NEN has received a cheque for £500 from The Royal Bank of Scotland. The banks’s charity committee agreed to support an application by  NEN board member Eddie Thorn.

Kevin Havelock, Regional Director for Corporate and Institutional Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, explained: “Following the difficulties that RBS experienced in recent years we are looking to reconnect with the communities that we all live and work in.”

He went on: “We are very fortunate at RBS to have many staff who have been with us for twenty, twenty-five even thirty years and many of them are active in their communities. We established a system of grants to support local charities and community initiatives nominated by our staff.

“The Edinburgh Community Partnership Board has representation from every division of the bank – there are eleven people in all on the committee, each with an equal vote. We were delighted both with the volume and the great variety of nominations that came in, and we agreed our first round of grants in October. We are supporting a very broad spectrum of good causes, from supplying sports equipment to groups to helping local health charities.”

Royal Bank of Scotland will donate £100,000 in a rolling programme in the East of Scotland, and one of the first forty grateful recipients is North Edinburgh News.

North Edinburgh News treasurer Eddie Thorn said: “The Royal Bank of Scotland is to be commended for their wide contribution to local communities. It is particularly pleasing that they recognised all that the NEN strives to achieve, and we are very grateful for the bank’s generous support – it’s much appreciated.”

Kevin added: “We will be offering practical and sometimes even physical support, too – we want the charity to get more from the bank than just a cheque. Working with and providing support to the charity is a natural progression.”

NEN’s Eddie Thorn and RBS’ Kevin Havelock are pictured outside the NEN’s base at Edinburgh College Granton Campus.

 

Oceans of support for Canine Partners

An Information Day held at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre on Saturday 10 November has raised £171.33 for Canine Partners, a charity that provides specially trained assistance dogs to people with physical disabilities.

Visitors to the shopping centre visited a Canine Partners stand where they could pick up information and take part in a raffle. Staffing the stand were Canine Partners staff, puppies in training and people with disabilities who have a canine partner.

One of those present was Sally Hyder from Edinburgh, Olympic torch bearer and author of best-selling book Finding Harmony, which describes her life before and after she received her canine partner Harmony.

Sally was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1990 but has continually strived to be an active mother to her three children, despite being in continual pain.  She said: “Thanks to Harmony I get out every day and have made new friends amongst the dog-walking community. I do my own washing and shopping.  Harmony has now learnt to put things in the washing machine rather than purely taking them out.   I have the energy to do things.  I drop things I don’t have to ask a stranger or my family to pick up after me. She even goes for help if I happen to fall out of my wheelchair.”

Dale Gormley, Canine Partners community fundraiser for Scotland, said: “Thank you to Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre for letting us have a stand and to all those who visited us.  We are striving to spread the word as much as possible about how our dogs can change the lives of people with disabilities in Scotland.  We rely heavily on volunteers and fundraisers, so if you think you can help us out do please get in touch.”

If you feel you can help Canine Partners in Scotland through fundraising, volunteering, taking on your own challenge, saving your used stamps and much more please call 0845 4811915 or visit www.caninepartners.org.uk.

Help Samaritan’s Purse Deliver its 100 Millionth Shoebox this Christmas

Samaritan’s Purse is calling on all churches, schools, workplaces, families and individuals in Edinburgh & Midlothian to help achieve a remarkable milestone – delivering their 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox during this year’s Operation Christmas Child (OCC) campaign. 

Over the past 22 years, through OCC, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered 94 million shoeboxes to needy children in over 100 countries.  To lift this total to 100 million and beyond, the charity is asking everyone in their communities to use creative ways to reach this target in time for November 18th, the final date for donors to hand in their gift-filled shoeboxes.

Edinburgh and Midlothian Area Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child, June Vasey says: “We are one of the UK’s largest annual children’s charity projects, distributing over one million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children at Christmas time last year. The challenge for us now is to grow Edinburgh and Midlothian’s contribution to this global programme, so we’re asking everyone across the region to help us achieve that.

“We are already finding throughout Edinburgh and Midlothian many individuals and groups are creatively going the extra mile in a number of ways including hosting coffee mornings, special concerts and shoebox parties.  It’s a great way to get people together and pack their shoeboxes and it’s really helping us towards our 100 million challenge.”

Samaritan’s Purse has also come up with another creative idea by asking everyone to email photographs of them holding up the shoeboxes they’ve packed, which will form one giant mosaic on the charity’s Facebook page of a child overseas holding their shoebox.

June Vasey said: “We hope this will help people visualise the impact of what each person’s shoebox can achieve in the life of a child.  It’s not about the 100 million number that’s so significant, but that each individual child will know that someone in the UK cares about them this Christmas.”

Find out how you can be part of the 100 Million Shoebox Challenge by visiting www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk for instructions on how to complete a gift-filled shoebox before the 18 November deadline.

 

Support Royal Blind’s ‘Glow in the Park’ at Fettes

Registration is now open for Royal Blind’s ‘Glow in the Park’ charity fundraiser in the grounds of Fettes College this month. Details below:

5.30pm Saturday 27 October 2012

The Grounds of Fettes College
Carrington Road, Edinburgh
Royal Blind’s Annual Children’s Sponsored Walk “Glow in the Park” registration is now open!
This year’s theme is Magic & Illusion, so magic something up to wear. And this year you could help us break the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Magic Lesson” so you too could be a record breaker!!!
What you can expect from Glow in the Park:
  • Event gates open at 5.30pm.
  • Free goodie bag & medal for each child
  • The evening will be hosted by a Forth FM presenter – who will help get us in place to set a new world record!
  • There is an indoor area to grab hot drinks and snacks
  • Take part in our toy raffle
  • Free glow in the dark face painting.
  • Magic activities around the route to add more fun to the walk.
Everyone must be registered before the event – there is a small donation of £5 per child, 3 and under free & £2 per adult. This is to cover the costs for the child’s medal, goodie bag and certificate and ensure all sponsorship money can go directly to our services we provide for the blind and visually impaired.
Click Here to secure your place, find out more information, see last year’s photos visit our event page now and register!

Click Here to see our sponsorship pack.

For further information visit www.royalblind.org.uk

Royal Blind

Invite to bfriends at Prentice Centre!

Paul Burke writes:
“As the Project Development Worker  for CHILDREN 1ST bfriends service in North  and West Edinburgh, I would like to invite you along to an Open day on Friday 12 October from 12 – 2pm at our base in The Prentice Centre at 1 Granton Mains Avenue.
In April 2012, CHILDREN  1ST re-opened its bfriends base in North Edinburgh and we feel this will  be a nice opportunity to meet with local agencies and let everyone know  more about our service, volunteers and the young people we work  with. Please try to pop along any time between 12-2pm – as we are meeting over lunch time, we will provide a  small buffet so you won’t miss out on lunch!”
If you plan to attend you can contact Paul at paul.burke@children1st.org.uk or telephone 552 8265. 

Port of Leith to support Macmillan coffee mornings

 

Two Leith sheltered housing complexes are taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ initiative this week.  The Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) developments at St Nicholas Court on Ferry Road and Hermitage Court on Academy Park will host events for their residents as well as anyone who wants to drop by.

Hermitage Court will hold a light lunch with sandwiches and cakes and raffle tomorrow (Wednesday September 26) from 12pm to 2pm, and  St Nicholas Court is hosting a ‘soup and sweet party’ on Friday (Sept 28) from 12pm to 2pm with a raffle and home baking.

Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator for PoLHA who manages St Nicholas Court, said:  “As Autumn has well and truly hit us, we hope this is a good opportunity for people to pop along to our developments and get a warming cup of tea or soup and to enjoy a chat while raising some money for this important cause.”

Hermitage Court will be taking donations and St Nicholas Court will charge £3 for people to join in the fun. Last year, the developments raised £500 for Macmillan and are hopeful for another successful fundraising drive.

Raise a cup of Fairtrade for Macmillan this month

Equal Exchange women farmers
Macmillan in Edinburgh are delighted to be supported by Equal Exchange, Scotland’s oldest and largest Fairtrade Coffee Co-op. The companies Edinburgh based café partners , including a number of Edinburgh’s Community Cafes,  will take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event to raise funds on 28 September, helping to reach the national £11 million target.

Heather Baird said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity and Equal Exchange are delighted to help raise funds from Fairtrade Coffee Mornings across Scotland this September. Cancer affects women worldwide and has touched many of the lives of the farmers we work with. “

All the women who we source our Coffee Grown By Women from are paid a fair price and extra women’s premium for their coffee. This year one of the farmer co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua spent their premium on cervical screening for its women members. Norma Gaeda Paiva was one of the woman farmers who set up this project and on her recent trip to the UK said “We want to give value and visibility to the important work that women farmers do and that has been traditionally ignored” Selling her coffee direct to Equal Exchange ensures cancer care like this exists in her community.

Macmillan’s Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, added: “We are very grateful to Equal Exchange for pledging such significant support to us through participation in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. Every penny raised will help fund more services for people affected by cancer in Edinburgh. Their involvement means there will be enough practical, medical, financial and emotional support to help to change the lives of everyone affected by cancer for the better.

“The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a really fun event that is really easy to take part in, especially as you can tailor it to suit yourself. Look out for the green coffee grown by women farmer’s stickers in cafes and shops across Scotland to show your support. If you were unable to hold it on September 28 just pick another day, if you’re not keen on coffee and would rather have cocktails or even herbal tea then that’s fine as well. All that matters is that you take part. So put a smile on your mug and help Macmillan reach more people affected by cancer in your area.”

To register to host a coffee morning visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 070 1315 or to join Equal Exchange’s pledge to support more women farmers in Fairtrade visit www.equalexchange.co.uk

 

 

The search is on for Scotland's First Aid champions

Do you know an inspiring First Aid champion who deserves the recognition of a Scottish First Aid Award? They could be a First Aid volunteer, a child, or an adult who has displayed remarkable courage. Or perhaps you know a quick thinking neighbour or colleague who has saved someone’s life with their First Aid skills? We want to hear about them!

St Andrew’s First Aid is calling for nominations for the inaugural Scottish First Aid Awards.  Nominations are open until Friday 28 September 2012 and a panel of judges will announce the shortlist in October 2012.  Successful entries will be invited to a prestigious black tie awards event to be held on Thursday 29 November 2012, at the City Chambers, Glasgow.

“The Scottish First Aid Awards have been created to champion First Aid in Scotland and recognise those individuals and businesses that are leading the way in its provision,” said Stuart Callison, CEO at St Andrew’s First Aid. “We would like to encourage everyone to get involved. The awards are open to all, regardless of whether you have received First Aid training with St Andrew’s First Aid or another provider and we are welcoming nominations from individuals, businesses, public sector organisations, shops, schools and many more.”

Entry to any of the awards categories is free and nominations can be made online at www.firstaid.org.uk/awards.

CATEGORY 1: The Workplace First Aid Award Do you know someone in your workplace that deserves recognition for their First Aid Skills?  This category has been created to recognise such individuals or organisations that are championing First Aid training to their staff, the public and their customers.

  • Public/Not for Profit Sector Award
  • Private Sector Award

CATEGORY 2: First Aid Volunteer Awards Volunteers are the lifeblood of a non-profit organisation.  The Volunteer Awards category has been created to celebrate courageous volunteers who have demonstrated an excellent use of their First Aid skills in Scotland.

  • Young First Aid Volunteer of the Year (up to 15 years of age)
  • Youth First Aid Volunteer of the Year (16-24 years)
  • First Aid Volunteer of the Year (25 years and over)

CATEGORY 3: The Herald Community First Aid Award This category has been created to recognise courageous individuals, valiant First Aid advocates and those who have excelled in using their First Aid skills in the Community.  We are seeking nominations from anyone, anywhere in recognition of a particularly inspirational First Aid achievement.

  • Young First Aid Champion (up to and including 15 years of age)
  • Community First Aid Champion (16 years and over)

For further information please contact Helen Forrest or Stephanie Stewart on 0141 332 4031

Helen.forrest@firstaid.org.uk or Stephanie.stewart@firstaid.org.uk

St Andrew’s First Aid