Month: November 2016

Hope Rescue in Wales have been working hard to improve the welfare of dogs since 2005 irrespective of their breed, age or medical condition.

As a small and independent registered charity we rely on the support of volunteers and donations, and after plenty of hard work and dedication we received the most amazing news…our very own rescue centre! We still can’t really believe it ourselves as this has always been our aspiration, and with the help of #givingtuesday, we’re hoping to make this dream a reality.

We currently don’t have our own rescue centre, and instead use commercial boarding kennels at a cost of between £50,000 to £80,000 a year. We have had an offer accepted on an incredible property in South Wales with facilities that will truly transform the lives of our rescue dogs. The purchase price and fees total £670,000. Initially we are looking to raise £100,000 to help reduce the amount we need to borrow and provide some working capital; if we can raise more, even better, as the lower the loan repayments the more money that can be spent on our wonderful dogs.

The benefits of owning our own facility include:

• Improved welfare and enrichment for our dogs with 80 kennels, 2 exercise paddocks, 18 acres of private woodland with dog walks, indoor training room and a grooming room
• Increased number of dogs available for adoption (in addition to our foster dogs)
• The ability to help more dogs including the Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC stray dog contract
• Increased volunteer opportunities, including supported employment and volunteer placements
• The opportunity cost of savings on boarding kennel fees
• Expansion of our community outreach services including provision of temporary canine respite for owners facing crisis situations such as domestic abuse
• Increased opportunities for public awareness and education
• Increased opportunities for income generation and fundraising

This really does represent a huge step-change in what we can do to improve the lives of stray and abandoned dogs in South Wales and we know that with the help and support of everyone we’ll be onto the right track.

#givingtuesday will not only help us with donations towards our final goal, but will hopefully raise awareness on how just a small act of kindness can offer a second chance to so many.

If you want to learn more about our work, or to donate, please visit our website.

Haven House has been involved with #givingtuesday for the past two years, and this year is no exception.

In previous years #givingtuesday has helped us to raise awareness of our hospice, and of the stories our families bravely share. This year we plan to highlight the story of Evelyn and Logan and their mum Keeley. This year our supporters, celebrity supporters and ambassadors will help share the story on #givingtuesday. Please read Keeley’s story here:

The Evelyn and Logan appeal
One of our mums, Keeley, has bravely shared her story this Christmas to help raise awareness and donations for the hospice.

Her son, Logan, was born on 1 December 2015 with Leigh syndrome – a severe neurological disorder which causes rapid muscle weakness that effects mobility, feeding and breathing.

Keeley lost her first baby, Evelyn, to the condition in 2014, when she was only seven-months-old. Haven House cared for Evelyn during her short life, providing Keeley with time for precious memories. Keeley was still grieving the death of her first child when she found out she was four and a half months pregnant with Logan. It came as a shock and Keeley was terrified that Logan would also have Leigh syndrome. Logan initially appeared healthy and Keeley thought she could now enjoy being a mum again.

However, at five months old Logan stopped drinking and feeding and began to cry a lot. Keeley was told he had reflux but she knew in her heart he too had Leigh syndrome. Not long after, her worse fears were confirmed.

Haven House is now supporting Keeley and Logan through another difficult journey. Logan has lost his smile, makes no sounds and is unable to sit up.Keeley said:

“I lost my precious Evelyn at seven-months-old so this Christmas is special to me as I am fully aware that it could be Logan’s last. It’s so comforting to know that Haven House will be there for Logan when the time comes, just like they were for Evelyn.”

Over the last few months Logan has developed epilepsy and is having about ten seizures a day. The majority of these are at night which means Keeley is not able to get much sleep. Keeley spends much of her time alone with Logan, and it is hard to get out as she doesn’t have a car and she has to take so much equipment with her. When she does go out it’s mostly to hospital to have endless tests or meetings with various consultants. The one trip that she does look forward to every week though is to have music therapy at Haven House.

“Logan gets so excited; he reaches out and listens and I see expressions on his face that I have not seen before. I like to think he is trying his best to smile at his mummy. I know that when the time comes to say goodbye to Logan, Haven House will be there to support us for as long as we need it. You cannot overestimate how much that means to me.”

How your donation can help:
£27 could pay for a sensory play experience in our interactive sensory play room
£54 could pay for a child to have a 30 minute one-to-one music therapy session
£67 could pay for two hours of support to families from our Bereavement Sister
£128 could pay for a toy home loan visit
£232 could pay for four hours of care for a deceased child in our Bereavement Suite

To donate, please visit our website and help to support others like Logan and Keeley.

At Bobath Scotland, we provide specialist therapy to people with cerebral palsy from our Glasgow based therapy centre.

This year for #givingtuesday, we are asking our supporters to ‘Be Brave for Bobath’, and conquer their fears, no matter how big or small. Whether they are taking part in a sky dive, or trying to overcome a personal obstacle such as quitting smoking, we will be supporting them all the way!

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability, with 1 in every 500 children in the UK diagnosed with CP – that’s one every six hours. Bobath Scotland exists to improve the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy and their families, offering specialist knowledge, information and support. However, we need to raise £8.50 for every £10 it costs to make magic moments possible, which is why we are calling on our supporters, both old and new, to get involved this #givingtuesday.

Bobath Scotland is a small organisation and every £1 really can change a life. Recently, we received this thank you email from the mum of a 5 year old who had visited us for therapy;

“I notice a difference in his abilities – he is much, much steadier on his feet without splints on, which has resulted in a new level of freedom at home. Because he is able to walk so well now, he gets out of bed every morning and walks confidently through to my bedroom to see me. This is fantastic, and whilst other mothers may think this is a troublesome thing, I am celebrating!”

To help us continue to make magical moments like this possible, we need your support.

For more information on Bobath, and to learn more about what we do at our therapy centre, please visit our website by clicking here.

Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen is home to over 16,000 students.

This year for #givingtuesday the RGU Foundation, in partnership with the Robertson Trust, is raising funds to support vital scholarships for needs-based students at the university. As well as financial commitment, the scholarships will include tailored support from the study skills and Access Unit.

These scholarships are absolutely vital in helping some students pursue their students. Scholars like Mark Roach, a Communications and Design student at Gray’s School of Art in RGU, have only been able to study because of support received from the RGU Foundation. It’s because of our generous donors that Mark has been able to invest in photography equipment and take part in very important field work outside of Aberdeen. Because of his experience he now plans on staying in Scotland and putting the skills he has developed to good use!

To find out more about the RGU Foundation, or to donate to us on #givingtuesday then visit our website.

This year, the Give2Gain Timebank is asking people to GIVE A TEA on #givingtuesday to help raise funds for the Timebank.

This will enable this group of people, from all over Stockport, made up of members of the public, local businesses, third sector organisations and local charities and groups to continue to meet up in Stockport and share their skills and experience to help each other with various projects across the local community.

How do you GIVE A TEA on #GivingTuesday?

Pop into Bill and Betty’s tea room in Cheadle between 10.00 and 15.00 on the 29th of November; order an English Breakfast, tea and a mince pie or a cafetiere of coffee, and a mince pie, for £5 per person and the Timebank will receive £2.50 of this as a donation. This includes both sit in and take out orders, or if you work on Cheadle High Street, you can even arrange to have your order delivered on the day! Just make sure you let Jane, at Bill and Betty’s have you order as soon as you can and remember to quote GIVE A TEA.

A big thank you to Jane of Bill and Betty’s for supporting the Give2Gain Timebank. A member of the Timebank will be at Bill and Betty’s between 1000 and 1130, on the 29th of November, should you have any questions about Give2Gain Timebank and what we all get up to, or you can pick up a leaflet about us from the venue.

#AllWeWantForChristmas is to fulfil 12 dreams, and #givingtuesday will help us to reach our goal.

A children’s charity, this Christmas we are aiming to fulfil the dreams of 12 seriously ill and life-limited children living across the UK.

We are very grateful to have been accepted for the Big Give’s #ChristmasChallenge16. All the money raised on #givingtuesday will go towards our Christmas campaign. #givingtuesday donations will also be doubled through match funding, taking us ever closer to our target.

Donations will help us to fulfil the dreams of children like Sam, the face of our Christmas campaign.

Two-year-old Sam has stage four neuroblastoma and in his short life has already endured more than 20 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, 13 sessions of radiotherapy and two operations. Last Christmas was very miserable. Sam needed platelet and blood transfusions and didn’t arrive home until 11pm on Christmas Eve. He barely opened his presents and by Boxing Day he was back in hospital.

This year Sam’s mum, Karen, dreams of a better Christmas for her family …

“It would be so good to be together for a few days this Christmas, just happy and enjoying ourselves as a family.”

The family have asked us to help make a Dream Come True for Sam. They dream of spending time at Winter Wonderland at Centre Parcs in Longleat Forest.
Through the generosity of our supporters, we hope to make Sam’s dream come true.

To learn more about our #givingtuesday campaign and to help give Sam a Christmas to remember, please visit www.dreamscometrue.uk.com or text HOHO24 £3 to 70070 to donate £3.

Thank you from everyone at Dreams Come True! 

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund supports Children born with heart disease and serves the whole of Yorkshire, the Humber and North Lincolnshire.

This year the team came up with the idea to link #GivingTuesday with their annual Fire Walk event.

The event sees brave volunteers and some of the CHSF staff face the fear of walking on fire in order to collect donations. Money raised will go towards providing expensive equipment for children at Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

“Walking over fire is without doubt one of the most thrilling extreme events that a person could take part in. Call it a right of passage, a test of faith or bravery – we see it as a great excuse to try something new this #givingtuesday, whilst raising vital funds for our charity.” – The CHSF team

The event will take place on Thursday 24th November, but supporters are asked to celebrate the feat by giving a special donation on #givingtuesday.

You can find out more about the FireWalk by visiting CHSF’s website here and you can donate at www.chsf.org.uk/donate.