Tag Archives: charity

Words For The Wounded Writing Prize Closes On 11 March

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W4WLogoAlt3 Words for the Wounded writing prize closes on 11 March. two grannies Why on earth do three grannies (two shown above) throw themselves out of a plane, strapped to a fit young man, hoping their parachutes open? Well, OK, the fit young man is a bit of a clue. But seriously, why? pic2 janairborne The reasons lie in the past and the present. In the past, both my grandfathers survived the first world war, so just as there were thankful villages who had lost no men, so too there were thankful families. But life isn’t that simple, is it? Gentle Percy, my mother’s father survived but took his own life in 1923. War has long, relentless tentacles which reach out and destroy families, just as surely as bullets do. pic3 poppies Then, about four years ago I met a young  man and his wife. They were both under twenty five. She was pushing him in his wheelchair; his portable ventilator lay on his chest. He’d been shot through the neck in Helmand and is tetraplegic, (paralysed from the neck down). They were both smiling and cheerful but their hopes and dreams were very different now, and everyday life was a mountain in itself.   I decided that, as writers, my two granny friends and I could help not just the wounded, but also aspiring writers. We founded Words for the Wounded and were enormously lucky in our patrons, amongst whom are Julian Fellowes, Louis de Berniers, Katie Fforde, Paddy Ashdown and many others. Julian Fellowes   We decided also that we would earn our donations, not just appeal to the generosity of others; hence the skydive, and hence the Mud Challenge Obstacle Course in August, and hence the LitFest to be held at High Wycombe on 18th April  2015 with Katie Fforde and two Midsomer Murders writers amongst others.   katie-fforde Our main thread, however, is our writing prizes. We have the short category for poetry/fiction/memoir – up to 400 words, with prize money of £400. Entry fee £4.50   This year we are launching The Independent Author Book Award for fiction or memoir, with a 1st prize of a Palamedes PR professional press release. pic 6 palamedes.jpg And a biography and review in Frost Magazine.  Entry fee £12.50 pic7Frost The WforW grannies absorb ALL the costs themselves, so every penny raised goes to the wounded. Our troops put their lives on the line for us, some are killed, many, many,  more sustain life-changing injuries. To help them is the aim of Words for the Wounded. They deserve the best.

For more information: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk 

Christmas, The Most Wasteful Time Of The Year?

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christmas_family460Christmas is a time of joy but also a time of giving. Unfortunately, it is also a time of waste and this Christmas is set to be a wasteful one, as new research today reveals Brits will throw out 4.2 million Christmas dinners across the country, amounting to the equivalent of 17.2m Brussels sprouts, 263,000 turkeys and 740,000 Christmas puddings.

 

The poll of 2,000 adults by Unilever shows that while we spend hundreds of pounds catering for the big day – on average £112 is spent per host on food alone – nearly 10% of every dinner plate is thrown away once the Christmas festivities subside, equalling a whopping £64m of squandered food.

 

Typically, there are six of us around the Christmas dinner table and we’re expected to eat £18.60 worth of food each. It would take the average family nearly 4 days to eat all of their food bought just for Christmas Day.

 

As part of Project Sunlight #ClearAPlate campaign, aimed at showing that ‘food poverty’ and ‘food waste’ are issues closer to home than many of us think, the research exposes the excesses of the festive season, with 75% of people admitting to overspending on their Christmas Day shop, and having too much leftover food. We all know that Christmas is a time for giving and, through the campaign this year, Project Sunlight are asking people to give just a moment to plan their festive food and think about what goes into the trolley. We’re also asking that if you do buy too much, don’t forget to drop some tins into your local food bank to help those that need it.

 

20% of Brits admit to buying traditional Christmas food they don’t necessarily like to eat, resulting in the nation discarding literally millions of roast vegetables. The amount of neglected Brussels sprouts alone would fill 1,000 wheelie bins, and all the leftover carrots could reach from London to Munich, end-to-end. Astonishingly, Brits could even fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool with all of the wasted Christmas gravy!

 

Top 10 most thrown-away Christmas foods:

We throw away:

  1. 17.2m Brussels sprouts
  2. 11.9m carrots
  3. 11.3m roast potatoes
  4. 10.9m parsnips
  5. 9.8m cups of gravy
  6. 7.9m slices of turkey (approx. 263,000 turkeys)
  7. 7.9m cups of stuffing
  8. 7.5m mince pies
  9. 7.4m slices of Christmas pudding (approx. 740,000 Christmas puddings)
  10. 7.1m pigs in blankets

When it comes to the festive season it seems our eyes are bigger than our bellies, with one third of respondents admitting to serving themselves an excessive Christmas dinner that they can’t finish. Additionally, 36% of adults cite ‘getting caught up in the Christmas spirit’ as their excuse for buying too much food for the day.

 

Under 35s are the worst culprits for food wastage at Christmas, as they lash out spending more than the national average (15% spending up to £200), but confess to discarding 13% of their Christmas food shop.

 

Top 5 Christmas Leftover Recipes:

  1. Best Ever Turkey Sandwich
  2. Spiced Persian Turkey Soup
  3. Marzipan Panettone Pudding
  4. Bubble & Squeak
  5. Turkey Meatloaf

 

The #ClearAPlate campaign pledges to provide an additional half a million meals to families in need through its partnership with Oxfam and calls on people to do their bit to address food waste, in order to help fight hunger.

 

People can show their support for the #ClearAPlate campaign through three simple steps:

  • CLEAR their plate of food and take a photograph
  • UPLOAD the image on their social media using #ClearAPlate to raise awareness of the issue
  • VISIT www.ProjectSunlight.co.uk to find out other ways to support the campaign, including donating meals or time to Oxfam. People can also find tips and advice on reducing food waste and clever recipe ideas

 

 

 

Darts World Champions Return To Norwich For The BetVision Norwich Charity Darts Masters 2015

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A host of former World Champion darts stars have signed up for the first BetVision Norwich Charity Darts Masters to be held at Norwich City Football Club on Saturday 27th June 2015. The event itself will be held in the Norfolk Suite providing a fantastic location for a very prestigious event.

The event is being organised and promoted by Lord Russell Baker of Little Moulton who is looking to fundraise for the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ managed by The Norfolk Community Foundation. The main aim of the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ is to promote health and wellbeing; tackle disadvantage; support local solutions to meet local needs; promote community cohesion; develop sustainable and supportive communities and to deliver grant-making and charity support for the current fund beneficiaries that include East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH), Star Throwers Cancer Care & Support, Chapel Road School for Severely Disabled Children and Norfolk Community Foundation, who will also create a Community Grant programme which will be advertised and local community groups will be invited to apply for grants up to £1,000.

The World dart stars attending on the evening are Eric Bristow MBE (5 x World Champion; John Lowe (3 x World Champion); Peter Manley (former World No.1 and 3 x World Finalist) and from Suffolk – the youngest ever World darts champion, Keith Deller.

The event offers everyone on the night a chance to play at least one of these former World champions and master darts players. In addition there will be a small competition with the darts masters consisting of two semi-finals and a Final on the night – playing for the Norwich Charity Darts Masters Trophy. It is envisaged that this event and competition will become an annual event in Norwich for many years. The trophy itself has been donated by David Willimott from Carmichaels Dart Mart in Magdalen Street, Norwich. David Willimott is the former Suffolk darts champion and has had the privilege to play these players on many occasions. In fact a score card still hangs in Carmichaels Dart Mart when John Lowe played David some years ago; David Willimott will be attending on the evening as a special guest.

John_Lowe_v_David_Willimott_(Carmichael's_Darts_Shop_in_Norwich)_&_The_Famous_John_Lowe_21_Dart_Checkout_at_1001Lord_Baker_of_Little_Moulton_and_David_Willimott_with_the_Norwich_Charity_Darts_Masters_Trophy_04-11-2014_(6)

John Lowe said, “Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, Peter Manley and myself will by playing at the Norwich City Football Club in aid of the Norfolk Community Foundation and other local charities’. It will be a great night, for me it will be a reunion with friends made over many years.  I first visited Norwich in the late 70’s and I have to say if ever I was to move from my beloved Chesterfield, Norwich would have been my first choice, not because they have a church for every day of the year and just as many pubs, but because I made friends that became everlasting friends.”  John Lowe added, “The 27th June 2015 will have a great line up, but for me it will be the Norwich Big Reunion, see you there my friends.”  Lord Baker said, “This is going to be a massive night and one that should put Norwich and Norfolk back where they belong, in the ‘Premiership’ of Darts. We are hoping to raise much needed funds to support local charities and community projects through the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’, and I am expecting this event to become an annual community fundraising event for years to come, with various darts masters and former World champions attending each year.”  Lord Baker added, “The Norwich Charity Darts Masters Trophy will hopefully become a prestigious trophy too, and over the years will bear the names of many World darts stars making the trophy a potential fundraising auction item too in the years to come”.  Graham Tuttle, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Community Foundation said, “The first Norwich Masters Dart Event will be a great event on the Norfolk calendar next year and the Norfolk Community Foundation is really pleased to be working with Lord Baker in such an innovative fundraising event for local charities and community groups across Norfolk”.  Steven Ho from Star Throwers said, “We are very grateful that Lord Baker is supporting Star Throwers again with this fantastic darts fundraiser. Russell organised a darts evening in May which was itself a fantastic evening but this one is looking like it will be even bigger and better! Russell’s continued fundraising means a great deal to our charity as it will help us to continue to provide advice and support to cancer patients and their loved ones”.  Laura Carver from EACH said, “We are delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of Lord Baker’s fundraising events and thank him sincerely for his fantastic efforts in helping to ensure we can continue caring for children and young people with life threatening or life limiting conditions and supporting their families in the community. Lord Baker’s fundraising efforts are truly inspirational and we urge the public to support his events. They really are enjoyable occasions and what’s more, help to raise much needed funds for local charities”.

BetVision_Norwich_Charity_Darts_Masters_2015

The BetVision Norwich Darts Masters 2015 is expected to be a sell-out with the VIP tickets already SOLD-OUT. Standard tickets for the evening are still available and these will make ideal Christmas presents for all those darts enthusiasts, so fill your loved one’s stocking this Christmas by visiting the On-line Ticket site – https://ncfdarts.eventbrite.co.uk/

This is your chance to give a special gift to those in your life and the chance of a lifetime to meet and possibly play one of the World’s most iconic darts stars in history – everyone on the night will have the chance to buy raffle tickets with the lucky winners able to play either Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Keith Deller or Peter Manley. So bring your darts!

For further information about the ‘Lord Baker Community Fund’ please visit the Norfolk Community Foundation web site – http://www.norfolkfoundation.com/funds/the-lord-baker-community-fund/

Get Behind Kyran in Hattie’s Haka: Support Leukaemia CARE & One-year-old Hattie Seymour

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The family of one-year-old Hattie Seymour, who has just been diagnosed with acute lymphomblastic leukaemia (ALL) are urging members of the public to join rugby star Kyran Bracken and take part in ‘Hattie’s Haka’ as she undergoes chemotherapy to fight the disease.

Get behind Kyran in Hattie’s Haka support Leukaemia CARE & One-year-old Hattie Seymour

 

One-year-old Hattie Seymour from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, was diagnosed with acute lymphomblastic leukaemia (ALL), on 21st November turning her family’s world upside down.

 

Brave Hattie started treatment this week, in an effort to rid her body of the leukaemia cells in her blood. She will find out on Tuesday 2nd December if the chemotherapy has been a success or whether she will need a stem cell transplant to hopefully cure her.

 

In a bid to show solidarity, her family has launched Hattie’s Haka, an appeal encouraging people to don their war paint and either video or photograph themselves doing the famous war dance made famous by the New Zealand All Blacks as well as make a small donation to Leukaemia CARE, a national blood cancer support charity. Since the appeal started on Monday (24th November), donations on Hattie’s Just Giving page have already exceeded £6,000.

 

After being contacted by Hattie’s grandfather, international rugby star, Kyran Bracken, has backed the appeal by photographing himself doing the Haka to help raise awareness of leukaemia and support Hattie and her family during a difficult and emotional time. The family are calling for the rest of the rugby community, as well as the general public, to get involved.

 

Katie Seymour, Hattie’s mother, said: “Despite this being an incredibly emotional and distressing time for us, we are overwhelmed by the huge amount of support we have had from not only friends and family, but total strangers, too. We never thought it would take off like this, but we are so grateful for everyone’s well wishes and we’re trying to remain positive and upbeat for Hattie.

 

“We have decided to support Leukaemia CARE because they not only help the patients, but the families affected by leukaemia too, so we wanted to give something back and help them continue their hard work.”

 

Kevin Hateley, Fundraising Manager at Leukaemia CARE, said: “A diagnosis of a blood cancer can be devastating for anyone, but when a child is diagnosed, it can be a terribly traumatic time for so many people. We are encouraging people to join in with Hattie’s Haka so we can continue to provide support to families just like Hattie’s’”

 

ALL is an acute form of leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells), characterised by the overproduction of cancerous, immature white blood cells—known as lymphoblasts or blast cells.

 

One-third of all childhood cancers are leukaemia, with approximately 400 new cases in the UK each year. Approximately three out of four of these cases are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). ALL can affect children of any age, but is more common in children aged one to four.

 

If you’d like to donate to show your support for Hattie, visit https://www.justgiving.com/hattieshaka and upload your Haka photo or video to www.facebook.com/HattiesHeroes

 

 

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe

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Iain Rennie Hospice at Home service, provided by Rennie Grove Hospice Care, offers essential palliative and end-of-life care based around patients and their families, both day and night.

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe

I know several people whose relatives have been nursed by these exemplary nurses and carers, nursed at home which is the wonderful concept of this charity.

One of their main fundraising arms is the charity shop. The Iain Rennie Hospice shop in Downley High Wycombe is just one of many. Downley is a village with a fantastic sense of community and a great deal going on, and is perched on the top of a hill to the west of High Wycombe, with a five minute walk to the Chiltern woods one side, and a twenty minute walk into town on the other.

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe shopwindow

Mandy Dowling runs the shop with the help of invaluable volunteers and Mandy’s award winning window dressing is a lesson to us all.

 

Inside is an Aladdin’s cave of Charity Chic, all donated, so that Mandy is never sure what will be brought in, which is part of the fun of working in a charity shop.

 

I found amongst many other ‘buys’ a pair of shoes, New Look. £5.00. Just the thing for clubbing. Slightly out of my age range, but only slightly, I say, hopefully.

 

More appropriate perhaps is the Laura Ashley Jacket for £5.00.

 

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe lauraashley

I found two beautiful slender white vases for £2.00 each and photographed them beside a neat black bowl with white dots. Sophisticated with clean lines. Mandy and I put them on top of a glass fronted cabinet that had been sold to someone who is going to upcyle it, in a distressed style. It was only £20 and I can’t believe I missed it.

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe twovases

Candle holders are my ‘thing’. These are often brought into the shop but these I left for someone else. I have no more room, and Dick would leave home if they came through the door. These are new, and priced at £4.00 each.

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe candleholder

Christmas is coming and the shop is festive, with most of the decorations and Christmas bric a brac for sale. I found these little ‘friends’.

Smiley Face is £1.00, the glamour-puss bear is £2.00 and the book, The First Snow of Winter by Graham Ralph is a snip at 50p. (lovely book. I read it while I was standing there)

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe childrensgifts

Over the last few weeks, Mandy and her staff have been snaffling up cafetieres for the Words for the Wounded LitFest Day on 18th April. Look at my haul thus far. Priced at £3.00 each.

Charity Chic in Downley, High Wycombe cafetieries

And yes, there are those magical moments you hear about on Antiques Roadshow. Mandy tells me of a dusty old painting that came into the shop and which could have slipped through their hands. But a bit of a rub (much like the gennii’s lamp) and a name appeared – Victoria Crowe who Mandy googled. It sold on ebay for £500.

 

To make a donation to Rennie Grove Hospice Care: www.renniegrove.org/donate or to volunteer www.renniegrove.org/volunteer

For further information: www.renniegrove.org/standards 

 

There are so many more Aladdin’s Caves out there, doing good whichever way you look. The customers get a fabulous deal, and hours of fun browsing, and the charity gain much needed money. Contact us with tales of your favourite charity shops/stalls and the buys that have brought you pleasure. Contact margaret@margaret-graham.com

 

 

 

Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker Night

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Last night saw stars including Tom Parker Bowles, Jamie Laing, Ben Elliot & Zac Goldsmith support the Quintessentially Foundation’s annual poker evening held in the beautifully restored Lancaster Ballroom at The Savoy Hotel in association with PokerStars. The aim of the evening was to raise much needed funds for three worthy causes: Greenhouse, Place2be and RightToPlay. We are delighted to announce that over £195,000 was raised from last night’s event, adding to the £4 million which has already been raised by the Foundation since 2008.

Ben Elliot & Zac Goldsmith 1 at Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Ben Elliot & Zac Goldsmith at Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Camilla Rutherford & Domnic Burns attend Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Ben Elliot at Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Zac Goldsmith & Alice Rothschild at Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Zac Goldsmith & Alice Rothschild attend Quintessentially Foundation Charity Poker 2014

Following a lavish champagne reception, the evening saw glamorous VIPs, movers & shakers and business luminaries take their seats alongside poker professionals and enthusiasts in a ‘Texas Hold’em’ poker tournament. At stake were 10 amazing prizes including a trip to the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino (R) European Poker Tour event and a Box for Arsenal vs Newcastle United in addition to a Pre-release Private Screening of a Working Title Film for 35 people.

Highlights of the evening included Jamie Laing repeatedly beating the poker pro at his table and winning all her chips forcing her to buy-in again to stay in the game!

The eclectic mix of characters clearly enjoyed themselves and the poker evening continued long into the night, with guests knocked out of the competition making the most of the cocktails & canapés on offer throughout the evening.

 

VIP Attendees: Ben Elliot, Tom Parker Bowles, Zac Goldsmith, Alice Rothschild, Jamie Laing, Sophie Michell, Camilla Rutherford, Alistair Guy

 

Team PokerStars Professionals

Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier

Jake Cody

Leo Margets

Fatima Moreira de Melo

Matthias De Meulder

Christophe De Meulder

 

What they drank: Dalmore Whiskey, Bellerose beer and Harry Brompton Ice tea

 

What they ate: canapés and bowl food including beef burger, braised lamb shank and sautéed potato gnocchi

 

 

Scottish Music Awards Take Centre Stage In Glasgow

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Shirley MansonAfter an incredible year of major international events in Glasgow, including the MTV EMA, the Scottish Music Awards will round off 2014’s year long celebration of sport and culture in the city on Saturday November 29th at the Old Fruitmarket.

Held annually by the charity Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, the exciting ceremony is their main source of funding, and promises its usual mix of inspirational and moving recognition for the vitally important work the charity delivers across the country, presented alongside performances and the coveted Tartan Clef awards for some of Scotland’s top musicians.

Previous years have seen Scottish favourites Twin Atlantic, Camera Obscura, Mogwai, Biffy Clyro, Deacon Blue, Barbara Dickson, songwriter John Reid, Emeli Sandé and Paolo Nutini honoured for their work among others; and stand out live performances from Edinburgh born pop star Nina Nesbitt, and a rare performance from Shirley Manson and Martin Metcalfe who were reunited on stage for the first time in 20 years at 2013’s event.

Since its debut in 2011, the PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Special Recognition Award has also shone a sparkling spotlight on the charity’s heroes from Howford school head teacher Karen Mathieson to violinist Nicola Benedetti.  Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, will present the award on the night.

Nordoff Robbins Scotland uses the power of music to improve the lives of over 400 children and adults isolated by disability, trauma or illness every week.

The charity needs £600,000 each year to operate, with every note raised in Scotland, staying in Scotland.  The charity is grounded in the belief that everyone can respond to music, no matter how ill or disabled. The unique qualities of music as therapy can enhance communication, support change, and enable people to live more resourcefully and creatively.

Music therapy represents a relatively new force in contemporary music which has established roots all over the globe over the past few decades. The Nordoff Robbins approach has played a pivotal role in this development.

It is named after its co-creators, Clive Robbins and Paul Nordoff who teamed up in 1959. Clive was a British special needs teacher Scottish Music Awards Take Centre Stage In Glasgowwand Paul was an American composer. Through musical improvisation, they pioneered an extraordinary new way of reaching and engaging children who had additional support needs.

In the 1960s and 70s they toured many parts of the world demonstrating their work, leaving groups of followers wherever they went. After Nordoff’s death in 1977, Robbins continued to champion the cause of music therapy, maintaining an active practice, teaching and lecturing until he was well into his 80s. He died in 2011, having inspired and captivated audiences worldwide with his life-transforming work in music.

Celebrating 18 years of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, November 29th 2014 will see some of Scotland’s top musicians; media and music industry join forces to raise awareness of and money for the charity with raffle and auctions donated from businesses across the country – for a full list of donations please click here. 

Glasgow has a worldwide reputation for producing and launching some of the world’s greatest musicians from Oasis’ now legendary performance at King Tut’s to previous award winners Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice, Wet Wet Wet and Sharleen Spiteri of Texas to name but a few. The Award’s home city is regarded by Time Magazine as “Europe’s Secret Capital of Music”, with the city hosting on average 130 music events every week (more than any other Scottish city), which generate millions for the city’s economy each year.

The Scottish Music Awards is a celebration of the massive strength, and huge diversity, of Scotland’s internationally successful and renowned music industry.

For more information on Scotland’s only music therapy charity please visit

www.nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk or to make a donation please visit http://www.justgiving.com/nrmt or call 01506 239578.

Keep up to date at www.facebook.com/nordoffrobbinsscotland and on Twitter at @NRScot

Text MMCL14 to 70070 to donate anything up to £10

 

 

 

My Daddy is a Soldier Calendar

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Our hearts nearly melted at Frost when this landed in our inbox. My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures supports the children (Little Troopers) of British Soldiers, both full time and those serving with the Reserves. They aim to build a community where the children and parent at home can support each other, share their experiences and coping mechanisms for long tours.  The charity has also developed unique resources such as the Separation pack; which includes monthly charts that the children use to count down until Mummy or Daddy is home again.

 

We love all of the photos but some of the highlights are:
  • March features little Joshua Hannon, aged 3 celebrating his Dad’s return home from Afghanistan
  • April shows Declan Jones 7 years old, and his Dad Sergeant Mike Jones on parade.
  • June features Reilly James Crowston with his Dad Craftman Michael Crowston.  Reilly was just nine days old and luckily Dad was at home for the birth because he was in special care for five days.
  • The back cover which has 27 shortlisted pictures showing army families from across the globe.

mydaddyisasoldier

This year the Little Troopers calendar will be A4 and include a useful family planner.  The calendars are just £9.99 and can be ordered from the Charity’s website www.mydaddyisasoldieradventures.org. All profits from the calendar will go towards the charity’s work and will help even more Little Troopers next year.