Tag: summer appeal

Councillor presents congratulatory motion to Eric Liddell Community

Following the visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to The Eric Liddell Community in April this year, local Councillor Marie-Clair Munro brought forward a Congratulatory Motion that received cross-party support.

The motion formally recognises the charity’s vital work, championed by Her Royal Highness, in delivering specialised dementia care across Edinburgh and establishing a welcoming hub to combat loneliness and isolation. 

Last Friday (6 June), Councillor Munro visited The Eric Liddell Community to present the motion in person. The recognition was formally handed to Irene Adams OBE, Chair of The Eric Liddell Community, and Paul Drury, Head of Fundraising and Community Services.

Councillor Munro was in attendance as Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal made her first appearance at The Eric Liddell Community since becoming the Royal Patron of the charity. Following this event, the local councillor has praised the charity for its ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and shining a light on the importance of compassionate, person-centred care. 

Councillor Munro said: “I was honoured to be invited along to The Eric Liddell Community in April to be in attendance and meet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, during her first official visit as Royal Patron of the Charity.

“I have always admired the important work that The Eric Liddell Community does within our local area and further beyond and have had the pleasure of working with the team during a range of events, including as part of The Eric Liddell 100 programme in 2024.

“Following my interaction with Her Royal Highness, I was inspired to write this Congratulatory Motion to mark my support of the incredible work being done, and I am proud to say that this has received cross-party backing, highlighting the esteem in which the organisation is held.” 

The Eric Liddell Community is delighted to see the support shown by Councillor Munro and those who backed the motion, local backing is invaluable in enabling the charity to provide help for some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable people and families whilst continuing to share the legacy of The Flying Scotsman, Eric Liddell. 

Chair of The Eric Liddell Community, Irene Adams OBE, expressed her gratitude, adding: “Everybody at The Eric Liddell Community would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Councillor Munro and her cross-party supporters for presenting us with such meaningful recognition for the work that we do.

“Through working with individuals such as Councillor Munro and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, we have the opportunity to expand our services and provide support to those who need it most.” 

This June, The Eric Liddell Community is proud to launch its annual Summer Appeal, with a focus on recognising the vital contributions of unpaid carers.

These individuals provide essential care and support to their loved ones, often without formal recognition or access to resources. At the heart of this year’s appeal is the Community’s Befriending Project, which continues to make a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of those caring for people living with dementia.

By offering emotional support and meaningful connection, the project helps to ease isolation and enhance quality of life for carers, acknowledging the incredible role they play in our community. 

For further information about the appeal and The Eric Liddell Community, please visit https://ericliddell.org/get-involved/ 

Food That Goes Further: Cyrenians launch summer appeal

Cyrenians has launched their summer appeal ‘Food That Goes Further’, appealing for regular support to their community food projects to ‘help make sure that no one goes hungry’. 

Cyrenians is a Scottish homelessness charity, tackling the causes and consequences of homelessness. A large part of their work includes their community food projects – including community pantries, offering dignified access to low-cost, high-quality food, and cooking skills classes. 

Joe Gair, Cook School volunteer, said: “No one should have to go hungry. Too often, people struggling to make ends meet are told what to eat, when, and who with – often, that means people just go without. This isn’t good enough. 

“Food insecurity comes as a result of living in poverty, and having to make impossible choices, like paying for food or paying your rent. It isolates you from the wider community and has a real impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.  

“At our Good Food projects, anyone can come, which makes getting food as well as support so much easier. From money issues to housing, once you’ve built up a relationship with someone, it’s much easier to talk about it and find out how to get help.”  

Cyrenians’ food projects include a diverse range of social enterprises – from Cyrenians Farm in Kirknewton, and Arnotdale House and Café in Falkirk, to their Community Cook School and Fareshare depot in Leith. Providing value to local communities, and creating employment and training opportunities, the profits raised from these projects are then reinvested back into Cyrenians’ work tackling homelessness. 

Sue O’Neill-Berest, Food Education Manager, said: “Communities cannot be held responsible for food insecurity in Scotland, but community food projects are well-placed to respond to crises, and to promote dignity at a local level.

That’s why our food projects make sure that people can access low-cost, high quality food, and with dignity: open to all, and where people are able to choose what they eat, and when.”

Ewan Aitken CEO, said: “At Cyrenians, we know that the social connections that are creating around making and sharing meals can be just as important as the meals themselves. Building strong community relationships and making sure people can get support they need way before they reach crisis point is a key part of our work tackling homelessness. 

“In addition to that, we’re creating employment and job opportunities for communities, and helping to increase the availability of good food to local communities – working with local businesses and producers to create sustainable food networks that are good for people and good for the planet. 

“Our community food projects are needed more than ever. We need to build on these projects – but we can’t do that alone. 

“If you can, please support our #FoodThatGoesFurther appeal and help make sure that no one goes hungry” 

www.cyrenians.scot/foodthatgoesfurther 

Quarriers say ‘Thank You’ to supporters who made ‘Summer Appeal’ shine

Quarriers have said ‘thank you’ to supporters who helped more than 1,000 disadvantaged children across Scotland enjoy some much-needed summer fun over the holidays.

The leading social care charity asked people to donate £15 to give a child a day to remember and over the summer months children and young people from Moray down to Stranraer have been camping, building dens, visiting the seaside and participating in arts and crafts. Continue reading Quarriers say ‘Thank You’ to supporters who made ‘Summer Appeal’ shine

Call for help to tackle deliberate fire setting

With the summer holiday season upon us, firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are preparing to face a sharp increase in deliberate fires.

These types of incident account for more than 60 per cent of emergency fire calls across Scotland at this time of year and often involve fires in grass and heathland areas, derelict and unoccupied buildings, refuse bins and industrial skips.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Director for Prevention and Protection for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Fire officers work together with colleagues from local authorities, police, businesses and the third sector for a safer Scotland.

“This joined-up approach has resulted in a reduction of deliberate fires over the past five years; nevertheless more needs to be done to reduce these incidents, which often have a debilitating effect on local communities.”

The majority of incidents occur during the summer and early autumn months and are more common during late evening and weekend periods. Firefighters will be working with representatives from partner agencies to raise public awareness of the dangers of lighting fires, and at the same time keeping a careful watch to identify and manage local areas of high activity.

Assistant Chief Officer Ramsay added: “Ensuring the safety of the public and protecting property from fire is our main concern. Deliberate fire setting is an offence and should be reported to Police Scotland. Alternatively, crimes can be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

“Fire setting is an offence, don’t accept it, report it!”

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