Tag: CHAS

Classic comics designer supports competition to create a mascot for CHAS & Scotmid partnership

John Hunter Barrie, who worked on many colourful characters over his 38 year career with DC Thomson, is backing Scotmid’s mascot competition for children across Scotland.

The new character will become the face – and hands, feet, horns, fur and who knows what else – of Scotmid’s charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, better known as CHAS.

John has also shot a short drawing masterclass, sharing his top tips and tricks to help children design their friendly, feel-good mascot.

The winning entrant will see their design brought to life.  They will also receive a framed print of their character, £200 of fundraising vouchers for their school/group, a CHAS and Scotmid goody bag with exclusive mascot merchandise.

As well as increasing awareness of the incredible work carried out by CHAS, Scotmid aims to raise £350,000 for the charity during the 2021/2022 partnership.

Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Membership and Community at Scotmid said: “The Scotmid and CHAS mascot competition is such an exciting opportunity.

 “I used to love competitions like this when I was little and we’re so excited to see the wonderful designs. We look forward to having the winning mascot by our side at charity events.”

For nearly thirty years, CHAS has been offering full family support service for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

Each week, three children die from an incurable condition in Scotland, and the need for CHAS’ services on the rise.

There are currently more than 16,700 families across Scotland living with the constant fear and heartbreak that their child might die young.

Nicky Bridges, Associate Director of Outreach at CHAS, said: “This is a great opportunity to not only get kids involved in charity work, but to raise awareness of our charity partnership with Scotmid.

“We are so grateful to Scotmid for helping CHAS reach families across Scotland, even those in the most remote parts, and enable us to provide essential care to those who need it.  The creation of this character is a further demonstration of the huge efforts made by Scotmid and we are extremely grateful for that.”

The competition will end on 24th September 2020.

Children can submit their entries to competition@scotmid.co.uk or send to Mascot Competition, Scotmid Coop, Hillwood House, Newbridge, EH28 8QJ

Full details and terms & conditions: https://scotmid.coop/charactercompetition/

Amazing Aegon UK staff raise more than £140,000 for charity

  • ​Total includes more than £86,000 for two Scottish charities – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Alzheimer Scotland – and £38,665.51 for the national charity partner Macmillan
  • Aegon will support Blood Bikes Scotland and Marie Curie Edinburgh as local charity partners and Prince’s Trust as national charity partner in 2021

The pandemic didn’t stall fundraising in 2020, as Aegon UK employees working with their Atos colleagues raised a total of £142,368.06 for nine employee selected charity partners UK wide. (Who donated the 6p? – Ed.)

The company charity committees and employees coordinated everything from raffles, quizzes and dress up days, to running challenges, virtual coffee mornings and pet competitions to raise funds throughout the year. Aegon UK then matched these funds pound for pound, bringing the grand charitable total to £142,368.06 for the nine charity partners.

25% of all funds raised went to the national charity, Macmillan and 75% of money raised in each location went to the local charity or charities. The local charities selected by the employees in Edinburgh were Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Alzheimer Scotland .

Due to the lockdown, cheque presentations took place virtually this year for most of the charities, with just a couple of the cheques being delivered in person by Aegon employees.

A breakdown of the funds raised for each of the nine charities can be found below.

Mike Holliday-Williams, CEO, Aegon UK commented: “The pandemic presented our charity committees and employees with a fresh fundraising challenge this year. The usual bake sales and dress down days were no longer possible when the offices closed. But Aegon employees rose to this challenge and came up with a steady stream of wonderful ideas to ensure our charities were well taken care of, lifting everyone’s spirits in the process.

“Pet competitions, ready steady cook at home challenges, the 555 running challenge quizzes, dress up days, virtual coffee mornings, raffles and so much more – I was in awe at the persistence and creativity from everyone involved.

“Employees have gone above and beyond in 2020 to support the company’s commitment to giving back to our local communities – from nominating the charities close to their hearts, through to the passion and dedication shown in raising these funds for fantastic causes. I’m extremely impressed with the dedication and efforts of those involved, especially during a global pandemic.

“I would also like to thank the charity committees across all the locations for their hard work in keeping up the momentum and delivering for our charity partners. Helping people is at the core of what Aegon does as a business, and the fundraising work we do as a company is a key part of that.”

Michelle Campbell, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan said: “This is an acutely challenging time for people living with cancer, the NHS and for cancer care. We are doing whatever it takes to make sure our vital support continues to be available.

“Funding is needed more than ever, so for Aegon to exceed their original target and donate £38,665.51 is more than we could have imagined. This type of donation pays for a Macmillan support worker for over a year, helping people living with cancer receive the help they need.

“We would like to thank Aegon for their continued support throughout the year and for the outstanding amount raised.”

Rami Okasha, CEO at CHAS said: “Staff at Aegon have done amazing work to help children with life-shortening conditions across Scotland. We at CHAS just can’t thank the team enough.

“The money raised will fund the cost of specialist hospice care for children with short lives, and emotional and practical support for their parents, brothers and sisters. No-one should face the death of their child alone and this partnership takes us one step closer to making that a reality.”

Caroline Miller, Stakeholder Engagement Lead at Alzheimer Scotland said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for people living with dementia and their carers. There is an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland – approximately 60,000 of whom live in the community.

“Each of these people, to different degrees, rely on their daily routines, social interactions, community-based groups and activities, and formal health and social care services, as a way to maintain their wellbeing and live as independently as possible in their own communities.

“All these supports have been disrupted as a direct consequence of this pandemic and the public health restrictions. We’ve seen from the dramatic increase in calls to our helpline, the toll this has taken.

“The generosity of Aegon and their staff during our partnership has been humbling. Despite the restrictions in place, they have continued their fundraising at pace and also responded with a generous gift to our crisis appeal.

“The total of just over £43,000 raised is an incredible achievement in any year but we are so grateful that in this most difficult of years they have made such a contribution. This money will have a real impact on people living with dementia in Scotland as we continue to transform the ways in which we support people living with dementia, their families and carers as we move forward.”

The charities were chosen as the result of a company-wide vote on a shortlist of charities nominated by Aegon UK employees.

In 2021 Aegon UK employees and Atos colleagues will be supporting:

  • National charity – Prince’s Trust
  • Edinburgh local charities – Blood Bikes Scotland and Marie Curie Edinburgh
  • London local charity – London’s Air Ambulance
  • Manchester local charities – Forever Manchester and Dianne Oxberry Trust
  • Peterborough local charity – East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH)
  • Witham local charities – Kids Inspire and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance
  • Lytham local charity – Trinity Hospice & Brian’s House

Breakdown of funds raised for all Aegon UK charity partners in 2020. 

Aegon locationCharityFunds raised
National charityMacmillan£38,665.51
Edinburgh – local charityAlzheimer Scotland£43,023.08
Edinburgh – local charityCHAS£43,023.08
Witham – local charityFarleigh Hospice£3,718.42
Witham – local charityEssex and Herts Air Ambulance£3,718.42
London – local charityLondon’s Air Ambulance£3,675.68
Peterborough – local charityEast Anglia Children’s Hospice£4,784.69
Manchester – local charityDianne Oxberry Trust£879.59
Manchester – local charityForever Manchester£879.59
TOTAL£142,368.06

Celebs support Scotmid initiative to keep communities smiling

Scotmid urges people to share their favourite jokes for ‘Our Communities Care’ week and help raise funds for charity partner, CHAS

Scottish celebs have come together to help a national convenience retailer launch an initiative to keep communities smiling – and feel connected – throughout the current lockdown.

Comedian Janey Godley, Still Game’s Mark Cox and Homes under the Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell are supporting Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign, which launched this week as part of its ‘Our Communities Care’ Week (Monday 8 – Sunday 14 Feb 2021).

The initiative follows Scotmid’s hugely successful first lockdown #sharingsmiles campaign, which ran last year.

Children across the country were encouraged to draw a picture or write a letter and send it in to Scotmid – which they did in their droves. These were then shared with residents at more than 60 care homes in Scotland, to help residents feel more connected with the outside world, at a point in time when family visits were restricted, and feelings of loneliness and isolation were on the rise.

This time, Scotmid is asking people of all ages to share their favourite jokes and help raise a smile by showing those who remain shielding or who are finding the continued lockdown restrictions a struggle, that their communities care.

Our Communities Care Week also involves online and in-store activities to raise awareness of Scotmid’s 2021 charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

Funds raised through the partnership will enable vital development and expansion of their outreach service, CHAS at Home, ensuring they can support children and families in every community across Scotland.

Still Game’s Mark Cox said: “There has never been a more important time to come together in our local communities and support one another – and what better way to cheer each other up than by telling some jokes!

“Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign as part of Our Communities Care week is a great way to get involved and bring a smile to people’s faces. I’m looking forward to hearing what makes others laugh and to sharing a few of my own favourite jokes too.”

Scotmid President, Harry Cairney, said: “Scotmid is at the heart of the communities it serves and has been since it was founded more than 160 years ago.

“At the start of the first lockdown, we realised how many people were shielding in our local communities and wouldn’t be able to see their family and friends and so #SharingSmiles was born – to help cheer people up and make them feel hopeful.

“We’re excited to launch ‘Our Communities Care’ week, to encourage people of all ages to think about those that might still be shielding and to share their favourite jokes to make them laugh.”

Those looking to participate can send their jokes to lynneogg@scotmid.co.uk

Thorntons team with CHAS for Rocking Horse Ball

Thorntons and CHAS are thrilled to announce a brand new partnership that will raise crucial funds to support children with life-shortening conditions and their families throughout Scotland.

Thorntons have generously agreed to be the headline sponsor for the fifth edition of the CHAS Rocking Horse Ball, which takes place on 5 June 2020. The prestigious annual event attracts the great and good from Scottish business and society and has fast become one of the most popular charity dinners in Edinburgh’s social calendar.

Last year it raised an incredible £136,000 to further enable CHAS to provide a full family support service across Scotland for children with life shortening conditions and their families. With the generosity of the team at Thorntons, this year’s ‘Oz’-themed extravaganza promises to be the biggest so far.

Colin Graham, Chairman at Thorntons, said: “The annual CHAS Rocking Horse Ball is a fantastic fundraiser which supports the inspiring work of this charity throughout the year.

“We’re embedded in our local communities and CHAS provides services all over Scotland. We’re proud to pledge our support of the 2020 event which we hope will raise a record total for CHAS.”

CHAS Chief Executive, Rami Okasha, and the team were delighted to welcome Colin and Senior Partner Clare Macpherson to Rachel House hospice to show them where their contributions go and thank them for their support with a special gesture – a handmade pair of ruby slippers – created by three of the incredible children which CHAS supports.

Rami said: “We are thrilled to welcome Thorntons as our headline sponsors for this year’s Rocking Horse Ball. CHAS is a charity on a mission. We want to ensure that we can be there to support children with life shortening conditions and their families wherever they are in Scotland, and whenever they need us.

“The wonderful support from Colin and the team at Thorntons will be a huge support in ensuring we can continue to reach more families.”

In Scotland, nearly 16,000 children and young people live with life-shortening conditions and CHAS is determined to reach every family who needs its services. CHAS works across Scotland, able to provides its hospice services nation-wide for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. CHAS offers palliative, respite and end-of-life care from Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.

The CHAS at Home service supports families with the services of a hospice yet in their own homes across the whole of Scotland. Through its Diana Children’s Nurses working in hospitals across the country they can support families and clinical teams.

Pictured: Clare Macpherson, Rami Okasha, Diane Alton and Colin Graham.

Local children’s cancer charities go gold with Amazon

The Amazon Customer Service Centre in Edinburgh raised awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness in September with a special event to highlight the innovative work being done by hospitals and charities to support children and families across Scotland. Continue reading Local children’s cancer charities go gold with Amazon

Encore, encore: theatre’s support for charity is a smash hit

Edinburgh Playhouse CHAS - 1

The UK’s largest theatre – the Edinburgh Playhouse – and its generous audiences have together raised a total of £82,485.83 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Continue reading Encore, encore: theatre’s support for charity is a smash hit

Choose choccies for CHAS!

RELICS Events, a new events team based at Edinburgh College, is staging  a chocolately charity fundraising event in aid of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS): 

choco

RELICS Events are proud to announce our exciting, fun filled up and coming charity fundraising event ‘Chocoliscious’!

Our chocolate-fuelled day will feature an array of insanely talented chocolatiers, artisans, specialist sweet treat makers and beauty specialists such as iQ Chocolate LTD, One World Shop, HuffnPuff, LUSH Cosmetics, Thinking Chocolate and many more!

Along with each featured specialist, we will be offering you the chance to explore sheer chocolatey goodness in a mind-boggling Wonka inspired setting. ‘Chocoliscious’ will also feature an elaborate designated kid’s fun zone where children will be able to decorate cupcakes as well as partake in many other exciting activities.

Join us on Sunday 20 March 2016 at the Slug and Lettuce, George Street, between 12 noon and 4pm for our chocolate extravaganza. We cannot wait to welcome you!

“Here at RELICS, we believe Chocoliscious will be an unforgettable event for the whole family. We want to host an event that is not only a success, but will profit the incredible charity CHAS in many ways.” – Project Manager, RELICS Events

IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS YOU COULD NOT IMAGINE THE MARVELLOUS CHOCOLATE THAT AWAITS YOU!

TICKET PRICES:

ADULT – £8 ADVANCED TICKET OFFER/ £10 ON DOOR

CHILDREN (16 AND UNDER) – £4 ADVANCED TICKET OFFER/£5 ON DOOR

CHILDREN UNDER 3 GO FREE

FAMILY (2 ADULTS & 2 CHILDREN) – £22 ADVANCED TICKET OFFER/£25 ON DOOR

ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM TICKET SALES AND EVENT GO TO THE CHILDRENS HOSPICE ASSOCIATION SCOTLAND

Abseil allies!

CHAS bridge03

Macmillan Cancer Support and Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) joined forces this week to appeal for adventurous supporters in and around Edinburgh to abseil from the Forth Rail Bridge on Sunday 7 June. 

The challenge, which is run and organised by the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, will see the charities most daring fundraisers sponsored to freefall abseil 165ft from the iconic Forth Bridge onto the beach below.

Local Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, from Macmillan Cancer Support and CHAS Fundraiser, Laura Campbell, visited the Bridge ahead of the event to encourage people to sign up and support them.

Laura said: “As the official charities for the abseil, brave participants can elect to support both Macmillan and CHAS and have their funds split equally between us. This is a great event and a fantastic way to support two deserving charities!”

Jayne added: ‘We’d both like to thank the Rotary Club of South Queensferry for organising the abseil and choosing us as the main charities. We’d also like to thank those who have signed up already as well as encouraging more people to take up the challenge! Both our organisations rely heavily on public donations and we couldn’t provide the valuable services we do without people participating in events like these.’

Macmillan helps people in many ways, from specialist nurses and doctors, to help and advice for people who have financial worries as a result of their cancer diagnosis.

CHAS is the only charity providing hospice services in Scotland for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

For more information and to sign up, contact Macmillan on 0300 1000 200 or email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk

Shedding new light on the Botanics

Under cover of darkness, in the heart of the City the abundant natural landscape of ‘the Botanics’ will come alive this winter when the gates are opened to visitors at night-time. Who knows how many pairs of little glowing ‘eyes’ will be keeping watch over them as the Garden sheds some light on its after-dark secrets?

botanics LloydSmithThis November, visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) will be invited to enter the Garden after dark for a spectacular outdoor event featuring a magical combination of light and nature. It is the first outdoor light experience of its kind to be organised by the Garden.

Night in the Garden, which starts on 30 October and runs until 23 November, has been created by the Botanics and Edinburgh-based Unique Events, in association with Scottish light artist Malcolm Innes and his colleague Euan Winton. The artists’ vision means that night-time visitors will be able to make their way through a one kilometre route full of light and shadow and experience the Botanics in an entirely new manner, with interactive stations and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

The outdoor trail will use the Garden’s favourite features, such as the famous Victorian Glasshouses and Pond, as the backdrop for extraordinary light effects. Visitors can watch ‘the sun’ set inside the Palm House, see a host of sparkling lights suspended over water and enjoy enchanting illuminations that bring the indoors outside. They will also have the opportunity to create their own light show by manipulating some of the installations themselves.

Heather Jackson, RBGE’s Director of Enterprise, explained: “This is a chance for those who know and love the Edinburgh Garden, as well as new visitors of course, to see it in a completely different light – quite literally.

“We have over 700,000 daytime visitors a year and we are often asked if it’s possible to come at night, so we thought we’d come up with something unique to create a truly enchanting experience.

“The planned light installations by Malcolm promise to be spectacular, and by combining the wonder of light with the secrets of the trees and nature we have in abundance, it will certainly be a magical evening to remember for our night-time visitors.”

Malcolm Innes said: “The Garden at night is already a magical place, as some of the most recognisable features softly merge into the darkness.  It is this new reality that we will be manipulating to create installations that span the range from grand spectacle, through romantic and beautiful, to mysterious and tiny.

“The kind of hard edged, simplified geometry we learn at school is seldom discussed in relation to the natural world, but when the two are brought together, the visual effect can be magical. Come and join us and bring the family as we turn the world inside out and make the invisible, visible.”

The event will be open to members of the public with an hour-long experience allowing visitors to participate in something that they have never seen before, with different parts of the route being jaw-droppingly spectacular, some romantic and pretty, and others just a wee bit spooky – although not enough to put the kids off.  Night in the Garden is an event for all the family.

The experience is being delivered by RBGE and Unique Events, Scotland’s leading independent events company; organisers of the capital’s famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations and large-scale outdoor festivals and events. ‘Botanic Lights’ installations are designed by Malcolm Innes and Euan Winton of Edinburgh Napier University, and Leith-based Black Light is working with the partners to deliver lighting installation technical support.

Pete Irvine of Unique Events said: “Unique Events is delighted to be involved in this exciting and innovative project.  The Botanics is one of Edinburgh’s best loved places to visit in any season, but we will never have experienced it like this.”

Visitors to Night in the Garden will be required to purchase tickets in advance for a specific date and time slot.  Tickets are now on sale – for details and further informaton about the event, visit www.rbge.org.uk/botaniclights.

And if the Botanics lights experience appeals, you may want to know about this charity event too:

ebchantThe Enchanted Forest, Perthshire’s multi-award winning sound and light show, has announced that it has released an additional 1500 tickets for Thursday 2 October when it will hold a dedicated charity event, the proceeds from which will be split equally between Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) and Autism Scotland.

Over 45,0000 tickets went on sale for The Enchanted Forest’s 13th event, elemental, in June and organisers are already predicting a sell-out show this year with demand for tickets already up by 37%. The release of additional tickets will be welcomed by fans of the show and by supporters of the charities alike.

Graham Brown, chairman of the Highland Perthshire Community Interest Company that runs The Enchanted Forest, commented: “The Community Interest Company is, for the first time, in a strong position to give back to the local community and we have selected two charities that are very active in this area.

“It is marvellous to be able to assist Scottish Autism and CHAS with a charity night on the 2nd October and we wish them well and hope that they will benefit greatly from this unique fundraising opportunity.”

Derek Allan, producer of The Enchanted Forest added: “This is an exciting development for the show. As a community based event, we are very committed to giving something back and the two charities chosen both do exceptionally important work to support families and children across Scotland.

“Every year we get very positive feedback from customers whose children are affected by autism, and the profound impact the show has on them. For other families who are facing challenges, such as those supported by CHAS, the show offers an opportunity to enjoy time together and a break from their normal routine. We are proud to be giving both Scottish Autism and CHAS a helping hand.”

forestKaren Wilson, fundraising manager for Scottish Autism said: “We are delighted to be selected as one of the charities to benefit from this event. This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of our services which support people with autism and their families throughout Scotland. We are also looking forward to bringing along some of our service users to enjoy the experience on the night.”

Alison Rennie, CHAS Fundraiser added: “We’re very excited to have been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from The Enchanted Forest’s first ever charity evening. It promises to be a magical event and all the funds received by CHAS will help us to continue to provide vital support to babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.”

The 2014 show, elemental, sees the return of the creative team that put together last year’s successful show, with lighting design by Kate Bonney and Simon Hayes, sound design and composition by RJ McConnell, and orchestral compositions by Jon Beales.

The Enchanted Forest takes place from Friday 3 – Sunday 26 October 2014 at Faskally Wood near Pitlochry.

Tickets for the Charity Night on Thursday 2 October are available by visiting www.enchantedforest.org.uk/charity

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