Spare Chair Sunday - Contact the Elderly Campaign

Did you know a third of people over the age of 70 in the UK eat alone every day

So The Bisto Together Project and the charity Contact the Elderly have teamed up together to form Spare Chair Sunday

See below for details about what Spare Chair Sunday is about

Sunday lunch should be a time of togetherness. The one meal we all look forward to, where we sit down with friends and family for good food and good times. Yet for 1 in 7 older people, it’s the loneliest time of the week. 

So The Bisto Together Project and national charity Contact the Elderly have joined forces to create Spare Chair Sunday. A project that allows people to offer up a spare chair at their Sunday Lunch to an older person who would otherwise be eating alone.

For just a couple of hours of your time, you could make someone’s day. And of course, there’s nothing better than sharing some good food, great tales, and laughter around the table! If you can spare a chair at your table and host a meal, we’d love to hear from you. To sign up click here

http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/news/a-third-of-people-over-the-age-of-70-in-the-uk-eat-alone-every-day

Hackney Winter Night Shelter is Looking for Trustees

Hackney Winter Night Shelter is Looking for Trustees

Hackney Winter Night Shelter provides a warm welcome and dinner bed and breakfast and support for homeless guests who would otherwise be out on the streets during the coldest winter months. The shelter is open from November – April.

During the season we work with guests and throughout the year our link workers continue to assist them with finding more stable accommodation.

We are looking for additional trustees for our associated charity “Hackney Doorways”.

For information on what being a trustee entails and how to apply, please write to trusteejobs@hwns.org.uk

http://www.hwns.org.uk/hackney-winter-night-shelter-is-looking-for-trustees/

@PIPManchester #playitforward New Way for Charities to Earn Money

Today I have been informed by PIP-UK, a charity for people who suffer with Poland Syndrome, a rare birth defect about a new way they have for raising money

http://arcaiduk.com/pip.html

Interesting idea, and it shows how charities need to think of new ways to fundraise.

Poland Syndrome is rare birth defect. So rare the actual number of incidences of Poland Syndrome across the UK and in fact the world is not known. It is estimated to be between 1 in 7,000 births to 1 in 30,000 births. It is more common in men than women in fact about it has been suggested the occurrence is like to be 75% more common in men.

Poland Syndrome appears visually on one side of the body, the chest can appear sunken on one side, and is frequently accompanied by a smaller hand on the same side. At birth there may be missing fingers, webbed fingers or joined digits. This is referred to as syndactyly. There has been some research to suggest around 10% of people who were born with syndactyly were also born with Poland Syndrome.

http://pip-uk.org

Talk To Us business pledge from Suicide Prevention

GrassRoots Suicide Prevention has set up The "Talk To Us" business pledge, see below for their reasons why and what the pledge is all about

The "Talk To Us" business pledge

Brighton & Hove has a very high suicide rate and we want to work with local businesses to change that.  Businesses are uniquely placed to reach out to their staff and colleagues who might be thinking of suicide.  Most people who die by suicide are of working age and many will be in employment.  By signing up to this pledge companies can be more aware of the needs of colleagues who might be struggling with difficult feelings and be able to offer some support and information about where to go for help.  1 in 20 of us consider suicide in a 2 week period and business people are no different.  Together we can help make our city safer from suicide.

We pledge that we will:

• encourage colleagues to be open and honest when life gets difficult
• talk sensitively to colleagues if we are worried about them
• help them get support if they need it
• encourage colleagues to sign up to the individual Tell Me suicide prevention pledge

Sign the "Talk To Us" 
business pledge here

How to get involved with Sussex Nightstop

Sussex Nightstop is based on and affiliated with DePaul UK's Nightstop model. Their aim is to support young people facing homelessness by placing them in the homes of approved volunteer hosts recruited through Sussex Nightstop

They provide a flexible range if accommodation according to need - from one night to longer term supported lodgings.

So if you interested in volunteering with Sussex Nightstop, by proving a spare room which would be available for a young person who has housing needs

Hosts are required to provide the young person with a warm welcome, evening meal, washing facilities, bed and breakfast and most importantly, if necessary, a listening ear or a bit of ‘space’.

In return for this they provide full training and support, payment of expenses incurred and the opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of young people experiencing homelessness.

Quotes from Volunteer Hosts

If you are interested in getting involved go to the Sussex Nightstop website

Can you help replace.... Urgent Charity Appeal

Recently the allotment which Grace Eyre has, a Brighton charity which helps people with learning difficulties was broken into and set on fire. 

Disgusting action which has resulted in the loss of majority of their equipment. It is costing the charity over £1700 to replace all these tools. 

So Grace Eyre news your help either by donating money to them or if you can donate tools. Maybe you have a spade or rake you don't use anymore which could help 

Below is a list of things lost, so if you can help by donating that be amazing. If you can help you can tweet/contact me & I can pass it onto Grace Eyre, or you can contact them direct through their website   

• long handled shears
• large forks
• large spades
• rakes
• wheelbarrows
• trowel and fork sets
• secetuers
• tool box
• standard shears
• lawn edgers
• hoes
• wellies
• wood pallets
• petrol lawnmower
• cement bags
• french boules
• tennis rackets
• badminton rackets
• sheds
• rugger gloves
• watering cans
• garden brooms
• dustpan and brushes

Why Charities Should Make a Big Deal of Being Small

Small or Large Charities, do you have a preference for whom you support? Me, I support several big name charities like Scope, MS Society, and have taken part in the London to Brighton Night Ride for British Heart Foundation. BUT I do have a soft spot for small charities, when I did my first London Marathon back in 2007, I ran it for the London Sports Forum for People with Disabilities. Also working in the business centres I have, I have dealt with many small charities and can see the amazing hard work they do (Not saying the big charities don't work hard, I'm sure they do, but they have more money, which does make life a bit easier).

I like it when you working with a charity, where you know the people who work for them are so invested in what they doing, not just a job. It inspires you to help. That is exactly how I feel about Fairy Bricks, a great charity, who helps children in hospital by donating Lego. Knowing how hard they all work, makes me want to keep shouting about, hoping I can help them in my small little way.

And back to being small, see the article below from Fundraising.co.uk on why charities should take advantage of being small 

http://www.fundraising.co.uk/2015/09/10/why-charities-should-make-a-big-deal-of-being-small/

What do you think? 

What Charities Do You Support?

One of the things about this website is I want it to be interactive, I want you to use the comments section, let me know what you think.

As you can see on the Charity page, I have charity events and listing of a few great charities I follow, but I want to know who you follow, who do you think should go on my listings. What charity events should be on the events page

Let me know!