Two grand in two months: Sainsburys’ super support for charity partner

This year Sainsbury’s Blackhall have chosen Meningitis Research foundation as their charity of the year. Colleagues and customers have been really getting behind this charity and have raised £2,000 in the first 2 months!

On 18 October six colleagues are taking part in an abseil from the Forth Railway bridge to raise further funds for Meningitis Research Foundation and would love colleagues and customers to come along and support us.

Pictured: Jade Walker from Sainsburys Blackhall and MRF’s Ashleigh Hunt.

Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall

Zoo sleepover raises over £24,000

Cold comfort: Fundraisers get a taste of what life’s like for Edinburgh’s homeless people

Edinburgh’s Lord and Lady Provost and 126 hardy local fundraisers braved the elements through Thursday night at Edinburgh Zoo to raise funds for charities supporting homeless people.

Together they raised £24,340 – and counting – to be split between the Rock Trust and Four Square.

The open air sleep out, which took place close to the popular Penguins and Lemur Walkthroughs, was compered by Grant Stott. Featuring talks with charity workers, some of the city’s youngest rough sleepers and comedian Susan Morrison, participants were moved by stories of teenagers living without a home.

The brainchild of Edinburgh’s Lady Provost Elaine Brand, the event was the first of its kind for the Zoo. She said: “I’m overwhelmed by Edinburgh’s fundraising efforts. So many people got behind the event and raised vital funds for charity.

“Homelessness in Edinburgh remains a pressing issue and while nobody can truly experience the struggle of sleeping rough based on one night in the cold, everyone who took part will take away the knowledge of just how difficult this year’s colder months will be for our young homeless people.”

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson added: “I’m so glad that together, we were able to make a difference. Our sleepover at the Zoo was certainly a challenge and leaves you feeling so thankful to have a warm bed with a roof over your head to go home to.

“That is something some of Edinburgh’s young people wouldn’t have without the efforts of the Rock Trust and Four Square. These charities are hugely important for Edinburgh’s struggling young people who find themselves with nowhere else to turn.”

Heather Arni, Chief Executive of Four Square, said: “On behalf of myself, The Board, staff and importantly our young people I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Lady Provost and her team, the staff of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, all the individuals who attended and those who have donated.

“Such an event has enabled both charities to raise awareness of young people’s homelessness in Edinburgh and the services that work tirelessly across the city working with vulnerable, disadvantaged young people.”

Kate Polson, Chief Executive of the Rock Trust, added: “We hope that the people who slept out understand that because of the amazing amount of money raised, some of our young people won’t have to go through other nights like that.

“The Sleep Out participants have contributed to the provision of vital services which will help young people to overcome homelessness and build better futures. We are overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of all of those involved.”

Lady Provost to sleep rough – at the Zoo!

‘Nobody can truly experience the struggle of homelessness based on one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside’ – Lady Provost Elaine Brand.

Edinburgh’s Lady Provost will brave a cold night at the Zoo next week in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for local causes.

On a crusade to raise awareness of homelessness in the city, the Lady Provost Elaine Brand has challenged local businesses and individuals to join her as she swaps her bed for a sleeping bag and experiences a night with the nocturnal sounds of the RZSS Edinburgh Zoo’s animal inhabitants.

‘The Lady Provost’s Sleep Out at Edinburgh Zoo’ will raise vital funds for Four Square and the Rock Trust to help young people get off the streets and into work. Over 160 people have so far signed up to take part including teams from Edinburgh companies, members of the British Army and Lord Provost Donald Wilson.

The Lady Provost said she wants people to ‘open their eyes’ to what it is like for young homeless people during the colder months but admits the challenge will be nothing compared to the struggle faced by those who sleep rough every night.

She said: “In spite of Edinburgh’s continued growth as a successful and affluent city, homelessness remains a pressing issue. Nobody can truly experience the struggle of homelessness based on one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside.

“We’ll be sleeping out in September when the nights get longer and the temperature drops – I hope this shock to the system will emphasise just how difficult this year’s colder months will be for our young homeless people.”

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson added: “Elaine is determined to raise awareness of youth homelessness in Edinburgh and this event is an attempt to raise as much money as possible for Four Square and the Rock Trust. These charities are very close to her heart and I hope we can help to make a big difference.”

Edinburgh Zoo, owned by the charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), is home to more than 1,000 endangered animals and is one of Europe’s leading centres of conservation. The sleep out will take place outside the Zoo’s historic Mansion House, close to the popular Penguins Rock and Lemur Walkthrough.

Chris West, Chief Executive of RZSS, said: “We are delighted to support worthy causes of this nature. We wish every success to all those involved in raising awareness of homelessness in Edinburgh.”

While the number of people presenting to the City of Edinburgh Council as rough sleepers is the lowest of any Scottish city – having reduced by almost 15 per cent over the last five years – almost 4,000 people were assessed as homeless in the Capital last year: a quarter of those are aged 24 or younger.

The Rock Trust Chief Executive Kate Polson said: “We support approximately 400 young people from across Edinburgh and the Lothians every year, which shows that youth homelessness is a real problem. For the majority of people who become homeless, the main reason behind it is family breakdown or problems at school. It can really happen to anyone. This event will help raise awareness of the hardships faced by those forced to sleep rough and the Lady Provost and all the participants are helping to highlight the devastating issue of youth homelessness.”

Four Square Chief Executive Heather Arni said: “Every night in Edinburgh we provide a safe haven for 40 young people aged 16-24 in two hostels and 18 training flats. But simply giving them a roof over their head is not enough. We give them skills to fend for themselves, like cooking, budgeting and the chance to take a training course or volunteer. The Zoo sleep out facilitated by the Lady Provost and RZSS Edinburgh Zoo will enable both charities to continue their work.”

‘The Lady Provost’s Sleep Out at Edinburgh Zoo’ will take place overnight on Thursday 24 September.

Show your support on social media #ZooSleepOut

and by making a donation:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/SleepOutAtEdinburghZoo

‘Volcano Hunters’ face icy reception

Icelandic police hunt for Edinburgh charity fundraisers

They set off with the noblest of intentions – to raise as much money as they could for PoppyScotland. However it seems that a plan to raise funds by off-roading in Iceland has incurred the wrath of the gods – or at least the local police – and could yet spark a diplomatic incident.

In the finest Boy’s Own tradition, ex-servicemen Matt McHugh and Rhys Rowlands have been planning Operation Ragnarok (a Norse term interpreted as Final Destiny of the Gods) since April. During their month-long expedition this month the men plan to drive a pick-up truck on tricky off-road terrain to the summits of five or six volcanoes across Iceland. It’s the type of challenge Jeremy Clarkson himself would relish.

However it appears that their meticulous planning did not include checking out Iceland’s environmental laws and local sensitivities. The pair’s escapade has caused a storm of protest and could land them in hot water – and we’re not talking geysers!

A number of readers, including some from Iceland, have contacted NEN to express their anger over the expedition.

One said: ‘This is as illegal as it gets in Iceland, you cannot do off-road driving in Iceland. I hope this is just a(n) honest mistake and that you two are not one of the people to leave scars in the fragile environment that we are responsible for!’

Another added: ‘I sincerely hope they find another way to fund this. As others have said here before me off road driving in Iceland is illegal and an downright insult to us Icelanders. The nature here is very delicate and driving off road damages it and leaves a permanent mark.

‘The damages to moss alone can take hundreds of years to heal and frankly travelling to a country that is known for its untouched nature only to damage its nature is idiotic.’

According to local news source Iceland Review the ‘volcano hunters’ are now being hunted by police. IR’s Alex Elliot reported: ‘Northeast Iceland police were not informed of the expedition ahead of time, and the police chief in Húsavík says the case is under investigation in partnership with Vatnajökull National Park rangers to see what damage has been caused to the sensitive landscape.

‘The police chief says that all motorized traffic in the area is forbidden and if the men did indeed drive there, they were in a restricted area. The case would fall under nature protection laws. Any punishment will depend on how much damage the alleged off-road driving has caused and could result in heavy fines.’

Back in April when they launched their Operation Ragnarok campaign, the pair (above) said they were bracing themselves for ‘a tough time ahead’.

Matt said: “I have always wanted to see lava and, admittedly, there might be simpler ways to do this but tackling these volcanoes and reaching the summits is going to be a huge adventure and will test our endurance and stamina to the maximum.”

Rhys added: “The rocky, off-road environment and varying climate of Iceland will test our resilience and perseverance. The attributes and skills we learned in the military will help us to operate in this remote area but it will still be extremely hazardous.”

A tough time and hazardous, indeed – but maybe not the kind of challenges the comrades trained for …

Supermum Lisa’s special delivery

Lisa raises funds for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids

Lisa Quarrell, a mum-of-two, visited the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) in Edinburgh this week to hand over a state-of-the-art piece of equipment to help reduce children’s fear of needles.

Lisa, who’s from East Kilbride, is a familiar face at the hospital after her brave son Cole was admitted to the Paediatric Neurology ward at just two years old to receive treatment for epilepsy. Now three, Cole was just three months old when he first started taking seizures.

Cole was admitted to the RHSC in Edinburgh to undergo a lesionectomy on his left temporal lobe. During this time, little Cole had bloods taken twice a day, every day. On top of epilepsy treatment and examinations, these examinations proved to be extremely stressful for baby Cole, mum Lisa and dad David.

Lisa said: “It was very difficult to find Cole’s veins as they would collapse a lot of the time. The trauma of this made Cole extremely needle phobic. Twice a day, we would have to hold him in place for up to 20 minutes, until we could find a vein and get the blood sample that the nurses required.

“It was heart-breaking for me to watch Cole experience this level of fear over the needles and I was desperate to do something to help the nurses and other patients have an easier time when it came to this essential treatment. When the Ward 7 nurses told me about the AccuVein device it seemed like the perfect solution and I knew I wanted to fundraise for this great piece of kit.”

The state-of-the-art AccuVein device, worth more than £3,500, shines a special light over a child’s body to reveal the veins located underneath the skin. This technique allows nurses to carry out any needle-based procedures more quickly and accurately than ever before, vastly improving what is a traumatic experience for so many children.

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF), which exists to transform the experiences of children visiting hospital, has also invested almost £5,000 to fund this vein illumination device and other innovative equipment to help reduce children’s anxiety around needles across the hospital.

Lisa continued: “It’s amazing the difference one small instrument can make to a child’s experience in hospital and I’m so happy to see the first AccuVein device I fundraised for go to good use in Ward 7. I’m hoping to fund a further four devices in the next few months so that more children than ever before can benefit.”

Roslyn Neely, Chief Executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “At the SKFF we believe that nothing should get in the way of being a child, this includes small procedures like injections, blood samples and cannulation which can be extremely stressful for young children.

“We’re extremely grateful to Lisa and her entire family for their help in bringing this equipment to the ward floors – we’re already seeing the positive impact it is having for patients, families and the nursing staff across the hospital.”

Volunteer and help Scotland’s animals

‘We need the support of the public more than ever’ – Diane Aitchison, SSPCA

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to kind hearted people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help raise funds for abused, abandoned and injured animals by volunteering.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity is urging locals to get involved this Scottish Animal Week, which runs from 31 August to 5 September, by shaking a collection tin in their area.

Diane Aitchison, manager of the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balerno, said, “Last year our centre took in over 1,000 animals and we need the support of the public more than ever.

“As an animal welfare charity, we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on the generosity of animal lovers to continue our vital work.

“During Scottish Animal Week we have opportunities to fundraise throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians and we’d be really grateful if locals can get behind our appeal and help.

“Door-to-door fundraising can be carried out between Monday and Friday, while people can hold street collections on the Saturday.

“We encourage people to have a bit of fun and some of our past
volunteers have dressed up in costumes or taken a canine friend along with them.

“Even if someone can only spare an hour or two to shake a collection tin, their time and efforts would be hugely appreciated.”

If you’d like to help fundraise for the Scottish SPCA contact the fundraising team on 03000 999 999 or email fundraising@scottishspca.org

In memory of Frankie

Charity match will raise funds for local youth project

In 2005, Frank McEwan, a local Pilton lad in his twenties, tragically died of cancer. It is a tribute to his vibrant personality that, ten years on, several of his friends wish to pay tribute to him.

Frank, known as Frankie to his friends, was a keen and gifted footballer who played for West Pilton Albion FC. It is therefore fitting that the tribute is in the form of a football match – West Pilton Albion Veterans v Lauriston Thistle.

This will take place at East Pilton Park on Saturday 1 August, kick off 2 pm. As well as the match itself, there will be other attractions like Beat the Goalie, Spot the Ball and a raffle with some excellent prizes generously donated by local businesses. Refreshments will also be served.

As well as a fitting way to honour Frankie’s life, this should prove a really good community event. All proceeds will be donated to Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, which works tirelessly to improve life for local young people and is a cause his friends have no doubt Frankie would have approved of.

More information can be found on Facebook page – Frank McEwan Memorial Match. Come along and have a good afternoon out, but if unable to attend, donations can be made directly to Pilton Youth and Childrens Project, quoting “In memory of Frankie”.

Support the Cash for Kids sleepover

Set your alarm clock: PYCP Friday 31 July!

Tonight hundreds of local children living in poverty will be going to sleep on the floor without even a mattress, or squeezing in with siblings and parents. £100 would buy them each a bed.

You can help! Come and take part in Forth 1’s Cash for Kids ‘Sleepover’ event on Friday 31 July at Pilton Youth & Children’s Project in West Pilton.All you have to do is raise £100 in sponsorship and stay overnight to experience the challenges these children go through on a nightly basis.

Among those who have registered to take part are TRIM’s Robert Pearson and Karma Lennon, who are now looking for sponsors.

Robert Pearson said: “I am in a privileged position were I can help others in our community, over the years I have been involved in TRIM I have visited families who had no beds at all and Mum, dad and the children were sleeping on sheets in one bedroom to keep warm. Thanks to the support of our community I was able to get them beds, sheets and duvets.

“It’s a hard thing to ask for help from people, But residents have grown to trust TRIM and I am confident that people will turn to us for help.Taking part in this sleep over is my way of helping a great appeal, and it’s fantastic to think that our own community will benefit.”

Karma added: “It is sad that in this day and age there are still kids in our area who don’t have the basics they need like a bed. Not getting a good nights sleep can cause numerous problems for kids and affect their lives now and in the future.

“If all it takes is sleeping on a hard surface for one night to help even just one child then I am more than happy to do that. Please sponsor Robert and I – even if it’s just £1.”

To sponsor Robert and Karma, visit
http://muirhouseresidents.co.uk/trim-chairman-and-secretary-to-raise-funds-for-forth-one-bed-appeal/

Or why not get involved yourself? You can download a fundraising pack containing sponsorship forms here!

To register, or for more information, go to: http://www.forth1.com/charity/bed/sleepover/

Remembering a gentle giant

Edinburgh Northern organise charity fundraising tournament in honour of big ‘Loggy’

Following the tragic death of Richard Logg in a car crash on Christmas-Eve 2014, his team mates at Edinburgh Northern Rugby Football Club (@ENRFC) have come together to raise funds in his honour and to keep the memory of a ‘gentle giant’ alive (writes JACOB COURT).

The Club has already run several successful fund raising events for local charities, all chosen by his young family. Widowed & Young (WAY) and Richmond’s Hope, as well as national charity Home Start, have been at the heart of fundraising efforts thus far.

The next event to be hosted looks to celebrate the things that will always remind us of Loggy; a crunching rugby style, a love of spending time with family and friends – and a spirited enthusiasm for mischief and laughs!

Centred round a rugby tournament to celebrate ‘Loggy’ through the sport he loved, the Club are putting on a day of events, aimed at participants of all ages. Rugby, raffles, auctions as well as a BBQ, refreshments, live music and activities for children will all be laid on in order to foster as much as is possible of the spirit that draws people to small, community rugby clubs like Northern.

Donations are welcome but a good attendance would be much preferred with the setting of his home pitch in Inverleith Park being the venue for a three way tournament between his Club, Edinburgh Northern, a ‘Northern Legends’ team and a guest appearance from charity favourites, The Pigbarians.

Edinburgh Northern RFC would like to take this opportunity to welcome anyone with a passion for fun and a love of laughs to join us in Inverleith Park, East Fettes Avenue from 1pm on Saturday 25 July for a day of rugby, family games, barbequed meats and an evening of music.

Epic cycle trek honours record breaker

Michael keeps it in the family!

An Edinburgh man is taking on an epic cycling challenge, from one end of Ireland to the other – 60 years after his aunt became the fastest woman to complete the route!

Michael Woods, who aims to complete the challenge in six days, will be joined by a group of family members during the 386 miles and they will raise funds for cancer charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.

The route will closely mirror the one taken by Michael’s aunt, Isabel Woods, on 26^thJune 1955. She cycled from Mizen Head on Ireland’s south coast to Fair Head in Northern Ireland in a record-breaking 23 hours and 3 minutes, a record she held on to until 1 July 2007.

Michael said: “Isabel’s ride of 60 years ago is a mind boggling feat of stamina and endurance and following the route at a more leisurely pace is one way of comprehending just what a feat it was. If our road trip enables us to raise funds for some good causes then all the better.”

Macmillan’s Edinburgh Fundraising Manager Jayne Forbes said: “We are very grateful to Michael, David, Norah, Sheena and Brian and everyone who supports them. They’ve already raised a fantastic amount of money which will help us make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.

“We help 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, none of which would be possible without the support of people in Edinburgh.”

If you would like to support Michael and the team please visit:

https://www.givey.com/ie2eiw60