Scots are more generous than the UK as a whole according to the first annual CAF Scotland Giving report, a major new survey outlining how Scots support charities across the country. Continue reading New report dispels the myth of skinflint Scots
Tag: donations
The kindness of Edinburgh folk
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.muirhousecommunitycentr
Eid Mubarak!
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has sent his best wishes to Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha
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:
- Before giving, check the charity’s name and registration number against the online charity search tool: Find a charity – register of charities
- 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.
- When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Carefully review collection bags for clothing and household goods to ascertain whether they are from a genuine charity.
- 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.
- Don’t be pressurised to give to a collection immediately. If in any doubt, donate directly to charity.
Crewe Terrace fire: Spartans come to the aid of ‘one of our own’
Spartans Academy sets up appeal fund
GRIM O’GRADY FUND
You might know that Grim (or Garry to give him his Sunday name) came home (Thursday 14 May) to find his family house in North Edinburgh had been destroyed in a fire. Grim and his family have lost all their possessions including his wonderful dog Buster and their cats.
To help Grim and his family quickly get back on their feet we have set up a collection for them via the Spartans Academy just giving website.
Everyone right across Spartans knows Grim and the fantastic contribution he makes, especially to the Spartans Connections programme. He has given up so much to help a large number of people within the North Edinburgh community and we’re hoping the Spartans, Lowland League and Scottish Football communities can help him in his time of need.
The football club will start the collection with a contribution of £500. If you would like to make a contribution but cannot do it online, please hand it into the Academy office and let them know it is for the Grim O’Grady Fund. If you want to contribute by cheque please make it payable to our charity, The Spartans Community Football Academy.
Our thoughts are with Grim and his family.
Make an online donation at www.justgiving.com/fund-for-grim
So far (Friday 9am) the appeal has raised over £17000 – keep giving!
Clear out those unwanted clothes
A Spring clean could support charities
£2.4 billion worth of unworn and unwanted clothing is lining Scotland’s wardrobes and could instead be used to help vulnerable people across the country, according to housing charity Shelter.
They say the average household has up to £1,000 worth of clothes that have not been worn for at least a year, most often because they no longer fit.
Shelter is encouraging people across Scotland to rummage through wardrobes, drawers, cupboards and attics and donate any unwanted items to one of their shops to help support the fight against bad housing and homelessness.
Last year 36,457 households made homeless applications to their local council in Scotland. Meanwhile, 150,500 households are currently on waiting lists for a home of their own.
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The total cost of unworn clothes is a staggering £2.4 billion in Scotland. Even a very small fraction of that could help Shelter Scotland to continue our fight against bad housing and homelessness.
“It costs just £10 for one of our expert advisors to help a family or individual at risk of losing their home – we can raise that money by selling an unwanted jumper or pair shoes. £45 is enough to train an advisor to protect children at risk, and that money could be raised from selling an unwanted winter coat that’s taking up space in someone’s wardrobe.
“We hope that the people of Scotland will continue to support us, because without their help and generosity our fight to end bad housing and homelessness would be so much harder.”
Research by WRAP shows that the annual footprints of a household’s new and existing clothing are equivalent to the weight of over 100 pairs of jeans or the water needed to fill over 1,000 bathtubs.
WRAP says that extending the average life of clothes by just three months, such as donating them to charity, would lead to a 5-10% reduction in each of the carbon, water and waste footprints.
It is estimated that £140 million worth (350,000 tonnes) of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year – clothes which Shelter Scotland says could be donated to charity.
Graeme Brown added: “We’ve all got clothes we no longer wear or need. If every person in Scotland donated just one item to a Shelter Scotland shop it would make a world of difference. Shelter Scotland believes that everybody deserves a home. Our work won’t stop until there’s a home for everyone.”
Spartans supporting the community at Christmas
Help us help our local community this Christmas
The Spartans Community Football Academy would like to extend support to local charities in the North Edinburgh area this Christmas. This year we are continuing our annual support of the Ashbrook Salvation Army based on Ferry Road.
We would also like to extend our support to food banks in our local area. We will be supporting the food banks based at the Granton Baptist Church and The Prentice Centre.
You can support the Academy appeal by donating:
- clothing and toiletries
- Tinned fruit/veg, pasta sauce, tinned fish, breakfast cereals and bars
Donations can be dropped off at the main office at The Spartans Community Football Academy, 94 Pilton Drive, Edinburgh.
We will arrange for all donations made to be delivered to the local charities we are supporting on Monday 22 December.
The Spartans Community Football Academy