A stunning, symbolic sculpture depicting the last remaining tree in a First World War battlefield is set to go on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to coincide with the launch of the commemorations of the Battle of Arras which began 100 years ago this week. Continue reading France 1914: Unique sculpture arrives at Kelvingrove Museum
Poppyscotland has been awarded grants of almost £1 million, it was announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Two separate projects will receive funding: a mobile education and community resource called the Moving Poppy (£730,000) and a brand new welfare centre in Ayrshire (£250,000). Continue reading Poppyscotland: £1 million for new projects
Young fundraiser’s Forth Road Bridge cycle for war hero uncle
A young fundraiser has chosen to cycle TWENTY miles for Poppyscotland, after his uncle’s life was transformed by the charity. Logan Thomson, who is 12, will cycle across the Forth Road Bridge fourteen times today. The young Fifer will also have the support of his six year old little sister Abbie, who will attempt to complete one of the laps of the bridge on foot whilst supporting her big brother along the way.
Logan was inspired to support Poppyscotland after the charity helped his Uncle Stuart get his life back when returning from serving in Iraq. Stuart Proudfoot suffered critical injuries after his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb during a routine patrol in January 2006, and the same incident claimed the life of his friend.
Logan, who has already raised £780 through online donations, said: “Poppyscotland holds a special place in the hearts of my family. My Uncle Stuart was injured in Iraq and Poppyscotland helped him get a house and gave him the support he needed.
“Also, my Uncle Barry is currently serving with the Royal Navy and I am hoping to follow in the military footsteps when I am older too.
“I’d love to raise £1,000 for the charity – that’s my ultimate goal. I’ve also got my little sister Abbie (below) to help, who will be crossing the bridge too on foot. I’d like to ask the Scottish public to donate what they can, so that Poppyscotland can continue to help more families like ours.”
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “We’re honoured to have the support of Logan and his little sister Abbie. They’re really going the extra mile for our ex-servicemen, women and their families who are in desperate need of our help.
“Now more than ever before, the Armed Forces community needs the support of the Scottish public. That’s why we’re calling for the Scottish public to go that extra mile in their support for this year’s Poppy Appeal. Whether it’s peddling 20 miles like Logan, or taking on a walking challenge like his sister Abbie, every penny helps us to offer life-changing support to the Armed Forces community in Scotland.”
To support Logan’s efforts, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/
Some of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks will be going the extra mile for the 2016 Scottish Poppy Appeal by lighting up red.
Edinburgh Castle, The Balmoral Hotel clock tower, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Airport, Jenners, EICC and the Government buildings at Victoria Quay and St Andrews House will all be turning the capital red in support of this year’s appeal.
They will be joined by many other iconic buildings and structures across the country in a bid to light up Scotland red and raise awareness for the annual fundraising campaign run by the leading charity Poppyscotland.
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see Edinburgh lit up in poppy red once again for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and we’ve been blown away by the community’s support.
“We hope that when people see Edinburgh glowing red over the Remembrance weekend they will think about the many ways they too can go the extra mile in their support for this year’s Poppy Appeal. Whether it’s putting a little bit more in the poppy tin, or doing something completely different to raise money, every penny helps us to offer life-changing support so we can be there when they call for backup.”
Edinburgh may be poppy-less in the future if more volunteers aren’t found in the run up to the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Charity Poppyscotland has issued an urgent appeal for area organisers in the capital. Continue reading PoppyScotland issues urgent call for Edinburgh volunteers
Poppyscotland is calling for bikers to get involved in a special Ride of Remembrance in Edinburgh this weekend.
On Sunday (11 October) around 200 motorbikes, scooters, trikes and quads are expected to take part in the 2015 Ride of Remembrance, organised by Poppyscotland supporter group War Torn Troops Remembered (WTTR). The event is open to all bikers.
Departing from Straiton Park & Ride at 9am, the convoy will travel to the city, congregating at the Scots American War Memorial in Princes Street Gardens West where, at 10.30am, a Remembrance service will take place. A pipe band will play and there will be a collection for Poppyscotland.
This will be the fourth year that the biking community has come together to pay tribute to Servicemen and women who have lost their lives. In support of Poppyscotland’s current work with members of the Armed Forces community, WTTR has raised £12,615 for the charity since 2012 through this annual event and other year-round fundraising activity.
Bikers wishing to take part can find out more and register in advance by emailing wttrregistration@yahoo.co.uk There is a registration fee of £5 with all proceeds being donated to Poppyscotland.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the service in Princes Street Gardens West.
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 …
ONE month, FIVE volcanoes, TWO men – and a pick-up truck!
Two Edinburgh ex-Servicemen today (Tuesday 14 April) launched their challenge to raise as much money as possible for Poppyscotland.
Operation Ragnarok will involve driving on tricky off-road terrain to the summits of five or six volcanoes across Iceland in a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck during the month of August.
At an event at the outdoor quarry area of the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, Matthew (Matt) McHugh (26) and Rhys Rowlands (29) undertook training for the treacherous conditions that they will face during their challenge, which included winching their pick-up truck, named Louis, on a rock face at a near vertical angle!
Matt trained as a mine clearance diver with the Royal Navy for two years but had to leave after being diagnosed with a heart condition. After discharge he received employment training support from Poppyscotland.
Rhys served with 2 SCOTS and retired from the Army last year following a serious leg injury sustained while on tour in Afghanistan.
Both men are passionate about the work of Poppyscotland and are raising funds to ensure that serving and ex-Service people and their families can receive support when they need it, both now and in the future. Their challenge is entirely self-funded which means that all money raised will be donated to Poppyscotland.
The name Operation Ragnarok is derived from an old Norse term that is interpreted as Final Destiny of the Gods and the pair are 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.
“Raising money for Poppyscotland is just as important as the physical challenge. I was helped by the charity to train for a new career and I want to give something back so that they can carry on helping veterans lead fulfilling lives on their return to civilian life.”
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. As a former soldier, Poppyscotland is a cause close to my heart and I really hope people will get behind Operation Ragnarok and donate as much as they can to help the charity continue to make a difference to those in need.”
Poppyscotland’s events fundraiser Marianne Craig said: “We feel privileged that Matt and Rhys have chosen Poppyscotland to benefit from their fundraising efforts. It is a unique challenge and we admire them for their drive and determination.
“We need to raise money all year round to ensure that members of the Armed Forces community can get the help they need to get their lives back on track. We rely on the enthusiasm and imagination of supporters like Matt and Rhys to help us make a difference and we wish them all the best.”
Matt and Rhys have gained sponsorship and financial support from a number of businesses including JÖTTNAR clothing and Belmont Group. The pair are also grateful to Edinburgh Leisure for hosting the launch at EICA: Ratho.
People can donate at www.justgiving.com/Team-Ragnarok or text 70070 with the letters OPRK88£ and the amount you wish to donate.
Find out more at www.operation-ragnarok.co.uk
• Customers can recycle their poppies in-store between 12th and 24th November
• All paper poppies collected will be sent to Poppyscotland where they will be re-used or recycled
• Only retailer to provide a poppy recycling service
Following the fundraising success for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, customers can make their donation go further this year at their local Sainsbury’s. The Blackhall store are providing a recycling service to support Poppyscotland.
Between 12th and 24th November, customers can choose to recycle their poppies via an in-store collection point. A poppy recycling box will be available at the Blackhall Customer Service Desk. All collected poppies will go back to Poppyscotland to enable them to re-use or recycle them.
Sainsbury’s is the only retailer providing this unique service to support the local environment and provide further support to Poppyscotland.
In June 2011, The Royal British Legion merged with Poppyscotland to form the largest charity group supporting the Armed Forces community across the whole of the UK. Poppyscotland continues to operate as a distinct charity within the Legion’s group of charities, and is responsible for running the Scottish Poppy Appeal, which raises over £2m each year.
Sainsbury’s Store Manager George Paton said: “The Scottish Poppy Appeal was a great success this year for fundraising and we’d like to thank everyone who contributed. With this recycling initiative, we wanted to show our customers another way they can support Poppyscotland to ensure their poppies don’t go to waste. We hope the recycling drive proves a success with our Blackhall customers”.
Sally McNaught, Deputy Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland added: “We’re delighted to be working with Sainsbury’s again on this recycling initiative. The donated poppies will either be re-used or re-cycled. Its another great way for customers to support poppyscotland.”
On the day the 2014 Poppy Appeal is launched Poppyscotland’s Chief Executive Ian McGregor explains why your support is as important as it’s ever been:
This year has been one of significant military anniversaries and milestones, in particular the centenary of the First World War. Without a doubt, the war changed our world and our communities forever.
Scotland punched above its weight in the war effort and, proportionally, lost more men than anywhere else in the UK. There was not a village, town or city left untouched by the war’s devastating impact.
From this horror and destruction grew the poppy, both as the nation’s collective symbol of Remembrance, and as a way to raise money to support those left destitute and with horrendous physical injuries and torturous mental scars.
Although times have changed, the reality of modern-day conflict means Servicemen and women are still risking their lives in our names and there is still a real need to support those who have served, those still serving and their families.
Problems can start for them on the battlefield, they might arise when making the transition to civilian life on leaving the Forces, or they might emerge years later.
Another important and very recent milestone has been the UK Forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, after 13 years of combat operations.
However, the demands placed on our Servicemen and women are by no means restricted to theatres of war. One only has to look at humanitarian efforts to tackle the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, involving British military medics, to see that serving in the Armed Forces can be hazardous in less obvious ways.
The aim of Poppyscotland is to address the problems faced by those in the Armed Forces community, by raising money through the Scottish Poppy Appeal, Scotland’s biggest street collection. The poppy is unique in bringing the country together in a simple yet powerful act of Remembrance but, importantly, it changes lives by providing much-needed support to those who need it most.
Despite the continuing difficult economic environment, the Appeal raised £2.64 million last year, thanks to a wonderfully generous Scottish public. The impact of this support is huge. There are seven common areas that the Armed Forces community can struggle with; Poppyscotland uses money that the public donates to tackle these issues in ways that are both practical and carefully focused.
Tailored Support & Funding – Everyone’s needs are different and these needs can change over time. That’s why Poppyscotland’s support is adapted to suit every individual’s circumstances. The range of support is wide and can include helping with a train fare for a job interview, funding an essential home adaptation or a replacement battery for an electric wheelchair.
Advice – Knowing where to turn for advice when times get tough is the key to a better future. However, with so many different organisations out there, knowing where to start can sometimes be confusing. Poppyscotland puts those in the Armed Forces community in touch with the right people via its welfare centre in Inverness and the Armed Services Advice Project – a major collaborative project with other Service charities, delivered by the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Employment – One of the biggest challenges for those leaving the military is getting a job. Finding suitable work can be difficult and transferring military skills to the civilian workplace is often a daunting prospect for Service leavers. Poppyscotland helps veterans find sustainable civilian careers by offering a range of services from re-training through to supporting those with mental health issues.
Mobility – Whether someone has suffered a battlefield injury, is experiencing a debilitating condition, has an existing injury which is worsening with time or is feeling the effects of getting older, Poppyscotland’s mobility services help veterans live independently by providing occupational therapist assessments, home adaptations and mobility aids.
Respite – The military lifestyle can be tough, particularly for the families of Servicemen and women who are often left at home and can become isolated while a loved one is away on operational duties. A short break can make an enormous difference, both to serving families and to veterans and their dependants. Our Poppy Breaks provide much-needed respite for those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity.
Housing– Finding suitable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing people leaving the Armed Forces. Many go straight from school into the military so finding and keeping their own homes on their return to civilian life can be hugely stressful. Money from the Scottish Poppy Appeal funds home improvements and adaptations, as well as support to specialist housing organisations.
Mental Health – While most leave the Armed Forces in a good frame of mind a significant minority experience mental health problems, which can include nightmares, flashbacks, isolation and insomnia. Poppyscotland works with other specialist organisations to fund and support services for veterans suffering from mental health difficulties.
Putting a donation in a poppy tin this November gives people an opportunity to remember and honour those who lost their lives but it also enables Poppyscotland to change lives for the better. Both history and continuing world events remind us that the Armed Forces community is likely to need the poppy for a long time to come.
To find out more about Poppyscotland and the Scottish Poppy Appeal visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk
