Tag: donations

Social Bite launches Festival of Kindness

  • Social Bite lights up major cities encouraging kindness this Christmas
  • Charity aims to provide 300,000 gifts, meals and essential items to people experiencing homelessness this Christmas
  • Christmas trees with donation points installed in five cities, Edinburgh London, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, to emphasise that ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind.’

Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness has launched in five cities across the UK today, expanding on last year’s campaign, in a bid to spread some much-needed festive goodwill and kindness.

The charity is asking people in Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to donate meals, gifts, essential items and accommodation to those who need it most this Christmas.

Through the campaign, Social Bite has set a target of providing 300,000 meals and essential items of the winter months to those experiencing homelessness this festive period.

Working alongside local partners, Social Bite has installed five 28ft tall Christmas trees across the country and is asking people to buy one extra gift, drop it under the tree and contribute to a movement of kindness.

Festival of Kindness locations include:

·       St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh

·       Charing Cross Station, London

·       Vinicombe Street, Glasgow

·       Outside M&S at the Bon Accord centre, Aberdeen

·       City Square, Dundee

The charity has created a gift wish list of the things homeless and vulnerable people need the most – from a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, to good quality socks and toys for children  living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning.

Passers-by can drop their gifts at the trees and take in the Christmas lights, meet Santa in Edinburgh and hear more about Social Bite’s ambitions from volunteers. All gifts will then be distributed by Social Bite’s dedicated team to those who need it most, just in time for Christmas.

Social Bite co-founder and Executive Director, Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “This Christmas, many of us will be able to reunite with family and friends to celebrate after so many restrictions.

“But for homeless people and families, the pandemic has made their situation particularly desperate. Thousands of people all over the UK will spend Christmas on the streets – cold, hungry and lonely, without a family to go to. Thousands of children will find themselves in temporary emergency accommodation or without food on the table over the festive period. 

 “That’s why we are building on the success of last year’s campaign to expand our reach even further, going from two to five locations and taking Festival of Kindness to London for the very first time.

 “Our Festival of Kindness campaign aims to spread some festive cheer. In a world, where you can be anything, we’re urging people to be kind and buy or donate a little extra to help those who need it most – even the smallest of gifts will make a huge difference.”

Monetary donations can also be made online via the Social Bite website which will then go towards the provision of food, gifts and essential items.

Donations will also help fund accommodation and support for those sleeping rough in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and London.

Social Bite has a track record of successful fundraising campaigns, having previously hosted ‘Sleep Out’ events in all major Scottish cities, then helped to launch The World’s Big Sleep Out for a global campaign attended by Hollywood A-listers including Dame Helen Mirren and Will Smith in 2019.

Last year’s Festival of Kindness held in Edinburgh and Glasgow raised over £1.5m.

All gifts should be new and unwrapped, with a helpful ‘how-to’ guide on their website.

To find out more or donate, please visit https://festive.social-bite.co.uk/

92% of children have changed their playing habits as result of the pandemic

As restrictions lift, getting back to ‘normal’ is simply out of reach for many families and children, who are lacking the funds and resources to reconnect with friends and family, play sport, visit attractions and play outdoors.

At the same time, Oxford Brooks University research has highlighted that lockdown restrictions have had a detrimental impact on children in particular, as reduced play and more sedentary behaviour has the potential to damage their long-term development.

In response, In Kind Direct, the UK charity that distributes large scale donations of products to charitable organisations, has set it’s sights on supporting Save the Children and the #SummerOfPlay initiative aimed at helping children get mentally and physically active this summer. At it’s heart it aims to give children the summer they deserve.

Over 100,000 products have been donated to In Kind Direct so far, which they will be distributing to the 7,000 UK charitable organisations in their network across the summer.

Products include arts and crafts, board games, stationery, lunch boxes, backpacks, jigsaws, books, toys, sports kits, balls and outdoor play equipment – all to support schools, charities and community groups with their holiday activities and aiming to address the startling statistics: 

  • Almost a quarter (23%) of children revealed they’re playing less sport and being less active than they used to be
  • 77% of charities in In Kind Direct’s network are seeing declining health and wellbeing in their areas
  • 76% of respondents from In Kind Direct’s charity network report people they support are feeling increasingly  isolated and lonely

In Kind Direct has joined forces with a number of incredible donating organisations and brands such as; Flying Tiger Copenhagen, PZ Cussons, TCC Global, Micro Scooters, Amazon, Mitre Sports and Hasbro – all have generously donated a wide range of products that will have an incredible impact and enable charitable organisations to do so much more across the summer holidays. 

Activity specialists Merlin, Junior Adventures and Big Game Hunters, have also donated generously, offering free placements at theme parks, opportunities to attend activity camps and chances to win outdoor play equipment – helping to boost physical and mental wellbeing at a time when it has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Debbie, from Pilton Youth & Children’s Project in North Edinburgh, said: “We work with children living in an area of multiple deprivation, so we try to make summer school holidays as fun as possible. 

“We want children to remember their summers and have stories to tell their children when they become adults. By giving them access to toys and fun activities they are very happy and can start to create some happy memories together.”

Rosanne Gray, In Kind Direct CEO, comments: “It’s heart-breaking to see the statistics of how much the pandemic has impacted children’s mental and physical development. Not having access to simple pleasures like a football or puzzles which many families take for granted has stopped many kids from being active and social.

“We cannot let this pandemic continue to impact physical and mental wellbeing for our younger generation, which is why we are encouraging any businesses with products or services to donate and make a difference over these summer months.”

If you are a manufacturer, retailer or supplier and want to donate contact: 

donations@inkinddirect.org  

Charitable organisations seeking donations, and wider products from In Kind Direct can register via: 

inkinddirect.org

Morrisons donates 500,000 meals to pet rescue centres

Morrisons has announced it will be donating over half a million meals to local pet rescue centres to help feed the nation’s cats and dogs – after demand for pet food has surged during lockdown.

Last year saw an unprecedented rise in pet ownership. With more of us at home than ever before, the desire for a companion reached peak levels with over two million dogs alone bought between March and September.

However, with millions more cats and dogs to feed in households up and down the UK, the need for pet food has dramatically increased.

In response to the increase in demand, Morrisons will set aside half a million meals in an effort to support local animal shelters – and to ensure no four-legged friend is left behind. Its network of ‘’Community Champions’ will work closely with their local shelters to distribute the meals up and down the UK.

Many animal shelters have been struggling through lack of funding and the economic fallout of Covid-19. And as hope for summer and a return to normality grows, animal shelters are facing the risk of more pets needing rehoming as their owners can no longer meet their needs.

Faye Atkins, Pet Food Buyer at Morrisons said: “Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on feeding the nation, so it only felt right to support those pets who may not have found their forever home just yet as well.

“We hope this donation will go some way to supporting the many shelters doing a fantastic job looking after some of our most vulnerable animals”.

Earlier this week, Morrisons announced it is working closely with its suppliers as they invest in increasing their capacity. Whilst there is not 100% full availability in stores, there remains plenty of stock for all its customers and their new pets.

You buy one, Morrisons & McVitie’s give one to a local food bank

Morrisons and McVitie’s are joining up with customers to ensure that those who really need it get a treat this Christmas. 

For every pack of McVitie’s 600g Victoria Biscuits sold in store, Morrisons & McVities will donate another to a local food bank or community group.

The offer is available until 24th November and forms part of Morrisons drive to restock Britain’s food banks and ensure no one is left behind as many struggle with the economic fallout of COVID-19.

The 600g selection of milk, white and dark chocolate biscuits costs £3. 

Rebecca Singleton, Community Director at Morrisons, said: “Many people have had a really difficult year and everybody deserves a treat this Christmas. This Buy One To Give One offer means customers can brighten up somebody else’s day as well as their own.” 

Morrisons also offers ‘Pick Up Pack’ parcels in stores that customers can purchase, containing items requested by local food banks.

They are also the first UK supermarket to trial an online donation mechanism that goes straight into the pockets of local food banks. Customers can purchase £10 vouchers on the Morrisons Food Boxes website, which are then sent directly to one of 50 food banks nationwide.

Kids in hospital don’t need more chocolate

Gift something other than chocolate this year

A LEADING children’s hospital charity is trying to get the message out there that kids in hospital don’t need more chocolate at Christmas time – and is offering an alternative this December. Continue reading Kids in hospital don’t need more chocolate

The kindness of Edinburgh folk

donation-to-muirhouse-minis

Over the years many donations have been received by Muirhouse Millennium Centre from members of our community(writes JAMES McGINTY).  The kindness still exists, and the latest donation (from someone who would like to remain anonymous) was a baby buggy in new condition.  Nieve & Lacey posed for the camera, both children from the Muirhouse Mini’s.

For more info on the Muirhouse Mini’s click HERE 

or go to www.muirhousecommunitycentre.co.uk

Eid Mubarak!

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has sent his best wishes to Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha

eid

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: “I would like to send my best wishes to Muslims across the world who are celebrating Eid al-Adha, marking the end of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

“We remember all of those killed and injured in the terrible accident at the Grand Mosque and our thoughts are with their families at this time.

“As Muslims gather with their families I wish you a peaceful and joyous Eid al-Adha.

“Eid Mubarak.”

Advice from the Charity Commission on how to give safely during Eid-al-Adha

Eid-al-Adha is a time of very generous charitable giving. People have a right to feel confident that their generosity is not abused and that their donations are being used for legitimate charitable purposes.

https://youtu.be/_apevyHxpP8

As part of its campaign #changethepicture the commission has produced a video for encouraging people to check before they give. It illustrates how people can help make sure their generosity makes a real difference to those in need by giving to legitimate, registered charities.

Top 10 tips from the commission to make sure you give safely:

  1. Before giving, check the charity’s name and registration number against the online charity search tool: Find a charity – register of charities
  2. Fundraisers require a licence from the local authority (or the police in London) to collect in a public place. Check that they have this. If the collection is in a privately owned place, check that they have the owner’s permission.
  3. When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed.
  4. If in doubt, ask the collector for more information – a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity.
  5. Genuine fundraising materials should feature the charity’s name, registered name and a landline contact number. Be wary of those that list only a mobile number.
  6. Make sure when you give to radio and television appeals that the process is secure. Ofcom lists the rules for radio and television charity appeals on its website: Licensing – Ofcom website.
  7. Take care when responding to emails or clicking links to a charity’s website to ensure that they are genuine. Instead, search online for your chosen charity to check you have the right web address. For further guidance see: Guidance for donors – Get Safe Online.
  8. Carefully review collection bags for clothing and household goods to ascertain whether they are from a genuine charity.
  9. After making these checks, if you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and inform the Charity Commission: Action Fraud – Police.
  10. Don’t be pressurised to give to a collection immediately. If in any doubt, donate directly to charity.

Change_the_pictureCity