Tag: letters

Letter: First aid should be compulsory throughout the UK, says campaigner Marina Fogle

Dear Editor, 

You never know how you would act in an emergency, yet our actions could save a life.

This is why I think it’s fantastic that, after 10 years of campaigning by the British Red Cross, it will be compulsory for first aid skills to be taught in all state schools in England from 2020. It’s an  impactful way to give young people the confidence they need to help someone.

As parents, Ben and I are so thrilled our children will be able to learn these important skills so that they never feel completely helpless in an emergency situation.

It’s also a relief knowing that if anything were to happen to them in the future, more people might be able to help.

So many women I know, especially those weaning their babies, are terrified of the possibility of their child choking. But children learning first aid could make all the difference if one of their younger siblings was choking at home.

This new legislation, however, is just for schools in England. At the moment teaching first aid in schools in the rest of the UK is optional.

We support the British Red Cross’s calls for it to become a compulsory part of the curriculum throughout the UK so all school children get the same chance to learn how to save a life.

Marina Fogle

Marina Fogle is a campaigner, co-founder of the Bump Class and host of The ParentHood podcast. She is married to British Red Cross Ambassador and TV adventurer Ben and mother to Ludo and Iona.

Letters: Paws To Listen

Dear Editor

A pet cat can be the centre of home life, being a constant presence in their owner’s lives for many years. It’s therefore understandable that the death of a cat can come as a shock, and many owners can find it difficult to come to terms with their loss.

Grieving for a cat may become more difficult as the death of a pet is not always seen as a significant loss, leading some people to hide their feelings. This means many people avoid talking about how grief has affected them, which can cause them to feel very alone.

Ahead of Grief Awareness Day (30 August), Cats Protection is highlighting its free and confidential Paws to Listen support service, so people facing the loss of a cat do not have to feel alone.

The service is run by trained volunteers who offer emotional support in coping with the loss of a cat. The service also includes a range of resources and information on its website, including understanding euthanasia and how to help children deal with the death of a cat.

The service is available between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays.  Anyone wishing to use the service can call 0800 024 9494 and a call back service is available if lines are busy. Alternatively, an email service is available by emailing pawstolisten@cats.org.uk

For more information, please visit www.cats.org.uk/grief

Catherine Joyce, Paws to Listen Team Leader

Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Lewes Road, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath RH17 7TT

Letters: British Heart Foundation patient engagement day

Dear Editor,

Are you living with Heart disease, or do you care for someone who is? If so, the British Heart Foundation Scotland (BHF) wants to hear from you.

We are at a crossroads in our national approach to heart disease. BHF Scotland believes the time is right to have a conversation about what national priorities for these conditions should be in the future.

BHF Scotland is holding a patient engagement day to gather information, opinions and experiences from people living with heart disease to help shape our ideas about what national priorities should be.

If you are interested in attending our event to find out more and share your experiences then please contact:

Kylie Strachan
Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer
British Heart Foundation Scotland
The Cube
43a Leith Street
Edinburgh EH1 3AT

Email: barclayk@bhf.org.uk
Telephone: 0131 561 3362 | Ext: 3362

Letters: Brew & Bake with Tana Ramsay!

Dear Editor

Meningitis Now is a charity that means a lot to me from my own personal experience of falling ill with the disease when I was 18. I wholeheartedly support and admire the work they do to raise much needed awareness.

This is why I was delighted to be asked to contribute a recipe to the charity for their Brew & Bake fundraiser – a wonderful way to bring people together to enjoy some delicious treats while raising money for a great cause.

My recipe is for an Orange and Poppy Seed cake but the great thing about this idea is you can keep things as simple – or as complicated – as you like. Whether your serve my cake, one of your own tasty recipes, or just break open a pack of biscuits, you’ll be doing something amazing to help families around the country living with the impact of meningitis.

To find out more about Brew&Bake please visit Meningitis Now’s special fundraising page. I hope you will join us with your own special event – after all, who doesn’t love a slice of cake and a good old cup of tea?

Warm wishes,

Tana Ramsay

Meningitis Now Celebrity Ambassador

Letters: Cats Protection repeats call for compulsory microchipping

Dear Editor

As the UK’s largest cat charity, Cats Protection has been marking National Microchipping Month this June by renewing our calls for compulsory microchipping of owned cats.

Cats and dogs are both much-loved pets by owners across the UK. Yet currently, microchipping is only compulsory for dogs, and we believe this should also apply to cats, so they have the same level of protection.

Microchipping is a safe, permanent and cost-effective method of identification which ensures cats can be reunited with their owner should they go missing and that lost cats are not mistaken as strays by rehoming charities.

It also ensures owners can be notified if their cat has been injured or killed in a road accident.  Cats Protection encourages local councils to scan any cats they collect that have died in road accidents for a microchip so their owners can be informed. 

Cats Protection will continue campaigning on this important issue, and readers can keep updated by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/microchips-reunite

Yours faithfully,

Jacqui Cuff

Head of Advocacy & Government Relations, Cats Protection

Letter: What a wonderful world?

Dear Editor

Great dangers exist for all life on this planet, caused in the main by human activity. This activity is increasingly being moer understood worldwide.

All species of life depend on each other for survival, but it would appear that some authorities – like those in Botswana, Namibia, Zambua and Zimbabwe – have a different view, stating that they intend to allow the shooting of elephants.

Why is such a dreadful thing thought about, let alone acted on? They are also lifting the ban on sales of ivory: it takes very little skill to add two and two together!

These backward steps must be opposed and stopped. NOW!

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

 

Letters: Thank You from Cats Protection

Dear Editor,

This Volunteers Week (1-7 June), I would like to take the opportunity to thank our fantastic volunteers who give so much of their time, skill and dedication for the benefit of cats in our care.

At Cats Protection we were grateful to involve over 11,200 volunteers during 2018. Volunteers are truly the foundation and life-blood of the charity. Whether volunteering in our shops or populating our social media channels; researching advocacy campaigns or fostering kittens, they ensure that every day we move closer to our vision of a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

Without them, we would not have been able to help rehome or reunite 44,000 cats and neuter around 143,000. Nor would we have delivered 1,693 education talks to 52,343 people. They are vital to every aspect of everything we achieve.

I would also like to thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery who are supporting volunteering across England, Scotland and Wales. Their support for our Volunteer Team Leaders means that we can share best practice through our adoption centres and out to our network of volunteer branches and shops.

We will be sharing a new animation for Volunteers’ Week on our social media channels about the many volunteering roles available with us and would love to hear from cat lovers who would like to help cats locally. They can visit www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering to find out more.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Meredith

Head of Volunteering Development

Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath RH17 7TT

Letter: Assange must be protected

Dear Editor

Sweden is a country associated with the better side of human activity: it is a reputation to be respected and treasured.

Recent events around the situation of Julian Assange is doing harm to this reputation, which must be a concern for the Swedish people.

Included in this letter is an appeal to the authorities of Sweden in the UK to use their good offices to secure justice for, and the protection of, Julian Assange from others.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: voice of the people?

Dear Editor

In future elections politicians both local and national must change their approach and attitude to the electors: from one of ‘what we will do for you, if elected’ to one of ‘we will carry out your decisions, if elected’.

This is how a democracy should and could work in the people’s interests.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens 

Letters: Splash Now for meningitis charity

Dear Editor

Meningitis Now and the Swimming Teachers Association would like to invite parents and their children to take part in a new water-based challenge to help us fight deadly meningitis.

Splash Now can be held in your local pool during swimming lessons, in a paddling pool in your back garden, in the sea – anywhere, as long as it involves water.

All we ask is that participants use the opportunity to raise some money for Meningitis Now and raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of the disease.

We think this could be a really fun way to encourage babies, toddlers and older children to get involved in swimming or just to enjoy cooling down on a hot summers day as well as to help us to support families that have been impacted by meningitis.

To find out more and to register for the event please visit our fundraising pages on the Meningitis Now website.

Yours sincerely

Kat Hollywell

Community Fundraising Assistant, Meningitis Now