Tag: Gail Porter

Gail passes on LOVE to Gorgie Farm Big Christmas Mission appeal

Gail Porter has formally launched LOVE Gorgie Farm’s Big Christmas Mission appeal, looking to bring some festive cheer to children and young people in need.

The Edinburgh-born celebrity has joined LOVE Learning, the education and social care charity that owns the farm, to reach out to the community and urged it to play its part by donating wrapped toys, clothing, food, and anything else they can spare.  

An invite has also been extended to any local businesses or organisations that would like to get involved. These can be emailed on christmas@l-o-v-e.org.uk

If donating, please label to advise on age, sex, and product description to ensure it goes to the right recipient.  

These can be donated at LOVE Gorgie Farm and there is also a GoFundMe page to make it as easy as possible for people to donate: https://bit.ly/33dXVrw

In addition to this, money raised from a series of activities in December will go onto support LOVE Gorgie Farm and the valuable work it is doing to support vulnerable children and their families.

Starting tomorrow (Wednesday 2nd December) it will be creating a Santa’s Grotto within it’s stables.  The Grotto will cost £10 per child and includes a gift to take home.

On Wednesdays each week, low-income families who are already users of LOVE Learning’s services be able to enjoy the Grotto for free.

Alongside this, they will also be hosting a 1-2-1 small animal handling experience for £15 per child.  This will grant recipients access to the animals for half an hour and comes with a souvenir photo.

There will be a virtual light switch on today to celebrate the beginning of the Big Christmas Mission appeal.

Gail said: “This is a fantastic appeal and I would urge everyone who feels able to dig deep and do what they can to support children and families in need. I was delighted to visit the farm earlier this year just before it reopened and have very fond memories of it as a child.

“This is a fantastic charity doing valuable work in the local community and I am delighted to see it continue this through the Big Christmas Mission appeal.”

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, said: “We are seeking to brighten up Christmas this year for children and families in need and are asking for generous donations to help bring some much-needed joy.

“It has been a tough year for everyone and no more so than for our children and young people, so please give what you can, whatever that may be.

“Help us to bring the LOVE back to Christmas this year and for many years to come.”

Gail digs deep for LOVE Gorgie Farm

Gail Porter met staff and volunteers to help out yesterday in advance of LOVE Gorgie Farm reopening on 29th February. Edinburgh-born Gail, like many, has fond childhood memories of the farm. 

A call for volunteers was issued earlier this month to assist in bringing the former Gorgie City Farm back to life, ahead of the farm re-opening its doors to the public as LOVE Gorgie Farm on Saturday 29th February.

LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable children, young people and adults by using innovative ways to engage them in learning. It announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in November 2019.

Gail said: “It was a pleasure to meet Lynn, the new team at LOVE Gorgie Farm and the volunteers, all of whom are working so hard to bring the farm back to life.

“Like many people in Edinburgh and Scotland, I was saddened to see Gorgie City Farm go into liquidation last year after having made so many memories in the farm as a child.

“I am very happy that a charity like LOVE Learning decided to take over it and can’t wait to see LOVE Gorgie Farm reopen again.”

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning said: “We are delighted to have welcomed Gail into the farm ahead of our grand reopening and glad to have learnt how much the site meant to her.

“We know how treasured and important the farm was the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible.

“We are overwhelmed with the positive support LOVE Gorgie Farm has received from everyone since we announced we were taking over it last month. We are still looking for volunteers to come next weekend as there is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29th of February.”

Interested volunteers can still help on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February and those looking to do so should email Gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk