Month: November 2024

A dedicated volunteer for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) is celebrating 37 years of service. 

With Giving Tuesday just around the corner, David Mantz is being praised as a prime example of the difference a person can make by volunteering for a cause close to their heart. 

KSS was founded in 1989 – but David started volunteering for the organisation two years before its inception after hearing from the charity’s founder Kate Chivers and her vision for an air ambulance in Kent. Since then, David has done everything he can to support KSS. 

As one of KSS’s first volunteers, David has paved the way for many others to follow in his footsteps, and today there are more than 100 active volunteers supporting KSS. 

As a passionate advocate for KSS, David has delivered talks to community groups across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, inspiring and generating support.  

He has helped to raise over £60K for KSS, from over 100 talks he has delivered, raffle tickets sold, donations made at events and more. Together with his wife, also a KSS volunteer, David has packaged and sent out thousands of Christmas cards to supporters over the years – David has trained other volunteers in this activity and has in turn, saved KSS thousands of pounds that would have otherwise been spent to outsource the work.  

“David has devoted 37 years to supporting KSS, which we are so very thankful for. He saw the vision from our founder and amazingly committed two years to helping raise funds before we even had our first helicopter. We are now a world-leading provider of pre-hospital critical care, and have attended over 46,000 missions since we were founded. We owe David and his family our sincere thanks and appreciation for the years of dedication, generosity and kindness he has committed to KSS and the communities we serve.”

“David’s commitment and dedication has helped transform this ambitious charity into an invaluable and essential service that is saving lives across Kent, Surrey and Sussex safe. The focus on raising both funds and awareness amongst the local community shows us how people can use their skills and voice to inspire others and make a real difference. We hope David’s story gets people thinking about how they can support their local charities this Giving Tuesday, so together we can transform our communities for the better.”

David was appointed as Director of Air Ambulance Promotions Limited (AAPL), KSS’ wholly owned trading company raising funds for KSS through the delivery of the KSS lottery and selling of merchandise, in March 2001 and through this role has witnessed and supported the medical advances that KSS’s teams have made in the charity’s 35-year history. This includes the move to carry blood and doctors on board, becoming the first 24/7 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in the country, and serving the communities of Kent, Surrey and Sussex with two AW169 helicopters that the charity now proudly owns.  

Within his Director’s role David helps to oversee the running of KSS’s lottery and raffles, the charity’s biggest income stream raising £95.5M since he first joined.  

Generous donors helped Together for Animals – a consortium of four animal charities – find homes for more than 6,000 neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals in 2023, and provide food and care package to over 72,000 pet owners struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

The Oxford-based consortium has revealed that many of the vital donations they receive come through Payroll Giving schemes – which allows PAYE employees to donate to charity directly through their pay. 

“On this Giving Tuesday, Together for Animals would like to celebrate and thank all our donors for their generosity. The majority of our supporters donate through Payroll Giving. They support us month in, month out and are among some of our most loyal supporters who fund crucial lifesaving work. Their regular support means we can plan ahead and assure animals in need that we will be there for them. If your place of work offers a Payroll Giving scheme and you are considering signing up to it, there is no time like the present and Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to do it.”

Donors like these have been instrumental in supporting the work of the consortium member charities who transformed the lives of over 750,000 pets and working animals across the UK, and in 30 countries around the world. In 2023 alone they helped:   

• Find loving new homes for 6,052 unwanted, abandoned or neglected animals. 

• Provide 459,142 animals with free veterinary care and clinical support, easing their suffering and protecting them from future illness. 

• Educate over 287,000 people on the best ways to care for animals, and issues affecting animal welfare, ensuring a better future for animals. 

• Provide help and support to people and pets affected by the cost-of-living crisis through food banks and care packages, supporting over 72,000 people. 

Each animal behind these statistics has their own unique story, like 11-year-old Niko, who was found wandering the streets on his own in North-West London and brought to Together for Animals member charity Mayhew.  

Following extensive care and support, Niko now has a loving new family – something that may not have been possible without Together for Animals supporters.  

“Niko’s story is just one of many examples why a simple monthly donation can change an animal’s life. And at time when everyone is thinking about how to save money, the tax incentives Payroll Giving has to offer can make giving more affordable. This Giving Tuesday we encourage everyone to ask their employer if they offer Payroll Giving and see how they too can help charities like these keep making the world a better place.”

Find out more about Together for Animals

Payroll Giving is a government backed scheme that allows someone to donate to charity directly through their pay. Doing so comes with considerable tax benefits to the donor – if a basic rate taxpayer donates £10 through payroll giving, it will only cost them £8, and the tax-relief increases for higher and additional rate taxpayers.

Creative Freelancer Rachel Ward, whose animation ‘Breaking the Cycle: Water Poverty and Empowering Women and Girls in Malawi’ won Silver at the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2024, has been praised by the Giving Tuesday global team for her ingenuity and commitment to supporting good causes.  

Rachel volunteered her time and skills to help Pump Aid, a charity dedicated to eradicating water poverty in Malawi, developing a short animation highlighting the harsh reality of water poverty and its impact on women and girls.  

“We are immensely grateful to Rachel for her talent and commitment in bringing this project to life. Her expertise and passion have been instrumental in creating a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences worldwide.”

Throughout the project Rachel remained committed to authenticity, working closely with the Pump Aid team in Malawi to create and record commentary that would give a voice to those who are affected by the issue.  

“Collaborating with Pump Aid and contributing to meaningful change is a real privilege. I wanted to create bespoke animations that would accurately convey the emotions and experiences of the people of Malawi. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us, and helped deliver an animation that resonated with viewers, evoking empathy and understanding for the women and girls battling water poverty in Malawi. You amplified our message and contributed to the wider impact of the awards.”

Following her success at the Smiley Charity Film Awards, the award winner is being recognised by Giving Tuesday, an international movement dedicated to celebrating generosity.  

“Rachel’s work shows us just how impactful volunteering can be. Giving her time and expertise pro-bono has helped an incredible charity reach and inspire more people, and raised awareness of a complex issue many in the UK are unaware of. This kind of generosity and commitment is what Giving Tuesday is all about. If everyone was to give some of their time and knowledge to good causes, we would be able to achieve great things and transform the lives of others.”

James added: “For Giving Tuesday 2024, we’re taking part in Big Give Week, from 3rd to 10th December. This year’s campaign, ‘Clean Water, Bright Futures in Rural Malawi,’ aims to raise £50,000. With match funding, every donation will have double the impact!” 

Pump Aid is a specialist UK NGO with a mission to end water poverty in Malawi. Pump Aid’s specialist Malawian staff work with communities to identify systemic issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene and focus on delivering solutions that are sustainable for the long term. This has led Pump Aid to focus on training and supporting local Mechanics to establish flourishing businesses repairing community waterpoints, preventing premature breakdown and restoring access to safe water for thousands across Malawi.  

To support their work and find out more and watch the award-winning video “Breaking the Cycle: Water Poverty and Empowering Women and Girls in Malawi” please visit https://pumpaid.org/ and Youtube

This Giving Tuesday, Cheshire based organic skincare business LJ Natural is donating 10% of sales to children’s charity Reuben’s Retreat, a small charity that supports both the families of children living medical complexities, and families who have lost a child.  

Although LJ Natural has been taking part in Giving Tuesday for some time, this year is especially meaningful for company founder Lisa Johnson. She said: “This incredible charity is very close to my heart. Last December, my dear friend Clare lost her 11-year-old son Oliver to an incurable brain tumour. 

“It is every family’s worst nightmare, but Reuben’s Retreat were absolutely invaluable to Clare, and her twin boys Oliver and George, in the last months of Oliver’s life. And they are still providing her and George with vital support now.” 

Lisa hopes her fundraising efforts will help Oliver’s memory live on and make sure other families get the support they need.   

She added: “Oliver was one in a million and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him is so very grateful to Reuben’s Retreat for giving him some joy in his difficult and heart-breaking journey. Hopefully Giving Tuesday can give them the fantastic boost they deserve, so they can continue helping families like Clare’s.”  

“The loss of a loved one is always devastating and without charities like Reuben’s Retreat, many families would have nowhere to turn at one of the most difficult times in their life. We are so pleased that Giving Tuesday is being used to shine a light on Oliver’s story and show many families facing the same challenges that they are not alone.”

Founded after the tragic Loss of Reuben Graham at just 23 months old, Reuben’s Retreat is a charity supporting families after child loss and families whose children may face an uncertain future by providing a place to relax, recharge, remember and rebuild.  

LJ Natural is an organic beauty brand owned by Lisa Johnson; she handmakes a range of simple, but incredibly effective, skincare products at her home in Cheshire. Lisa suffered with eczema and has very sensitive skin, so her ethos is to create beautiful, gentle plant-based products that transform women’s skin and make them feel better about themselves. Prices range from £2.95 to £25.

With Giving Tuesday, the global day celebrating giving and generosity, just around the corner, Beatson Cancer Charity is reflecting on the impact its incredible donors, supporters and volunteers have had in 2024.

Many people around the west of Scotland will be used to seeing the bright yellow Beatson t-shirts or vests worn by those volunteering, taking on challenges, or hosting events, on behalf of the charity, with this year being no different. 

Super fundraiser Kenneth Muir – a sports therapist from Lanarkshire – has raised over £50,000 for Beatson, through cycling, running and climbing challenges, and found our earlier this year he was going to be awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to the charity. 

Ardent supporter Arthur Oliver is a vocal champion of the charity – as part of his beloved late wife’s legacy, Arthur promotes the work of the Beatson and encourages anyone who asks for his views to donate or leave money to the charity. 

“Giving Tuesday is not just a day on the calendar; it’s a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together and show what generosity really means. At Beatson Cancer Charity, we believe that every act of giving – big or small – makes a real impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families. Whether you’re donating, volunteering your time, or even sharing our message with friends, your support helps us provide vital care and fund research to patients and families affected by cancer.”

Giving Tuesday, which started in 2012 in the United States of America and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries across the world, falls on December 3 this year. The UK theme is Give Your Way – showcasing all the various ways people can get involved in charitable giving, from volunteering their time and voices, all the way to leaving gifts in their Wills. 

“Beatson Cancer Charity is such a wonderful cause and there are so many people across the West of Scotland and beyond with personal links to the amazing work they do. As someone who had a parent who was treated at The Beatson, and witnessed the care and dedication to its patients, I have been profoundly moved by the stories of some of the charity’s volunteers and supporters. If you have ever thought about getting involved in charitable giving – whether that’s through volunteering, donating a gift or money, signing up to regular giving or Payroll Giving through your workplace, or even leaving a gift in your Will – Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to start. There is no gift too small – even the smallest acts of kindness, like checking in on a friend, can have a huge impact.”

You can support Beatson Cancer Charity this Giving Tuesday here. 

Every day, 12 babies are born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in the UK. Every day, new families receive the devastating news that their baby is facing open heart surgery and a battle to survive. This Giving Tuesday, children’s heart charity, Tiny Tickers, aims to make sure parents know they’re not alone. 

Tiny Tickers is a national charity that works to improve the early detection and care of babies with serious heart conditions. Around 6,000 babies are born with a serious heart defect in the UK each year. As well as working to give these babies a better start, Tiny Tickers supports their families through, what can be, a truly devastating experience.  

On Giving Tuesday, Tiny Tickers will ask supporters to donate £2.50 and send a hug to a family embarking on the challenging CHD journey. This will enable the charity to include a hug button in a support pack for a family. The support pack provides all the information and support a newly diagnosed heart family needs. Hug button donors can leave a special message of support, and the family receiving the hug will be able to see who their hug is from.  

The hug button is a token parents can take to appointments and the hospital ward to remind them that the charity and the entire community of heart parents are there for them. Tiny Tickers aims to send 100 hugs to heart parents this Giving Tuesday. 

Katie, mum of Primrose, who was born with a serious heart condition, requiring multiple open-heart surgeries, said: “When I received the support pack and hug button, it made me realise I wasn’t alone.” 

Vicki, mum to heart patient Jack, says of the support pack and hug button: “It helped us understand what we were about to embark upon and made us feel less isolated.”   

“When a family is confronted with a life-threatening diagnosis, the journey ahead can feel overwhelmingly daunting and isolating. Many families share with us the profound sense of loneliness they experienced, until they discovered the unwavering support and compassion of the heart family community. We are proud to offer heart families reliable information, peer support services and online forums to help them on their journeys. The hug button is another way to let them know they are never alone—we are here, holding their hand, every step of the way.”

“This wonderful campaign from Tiny Tickers will bring so many families comfort during one of the most difficult times of their lives. This is the true purpose of Giving Tuesday – bringing people together to make the world a better place through simple but impactful acts of kindness. I hope this special and meaningful campaign inspires everyone to consider how they can make a difference this Giving Tuesday, whether it’s making a donation, volunteering, or simply checking in on a friend.”

Tiny Tickers, a national charity, was founded in 1999 by world-renowned fetal cardiologist Dr Helena Gardiner, when she realised many of the babies she was caring for could have been helped earlier. It helps babies with congenital heart disease (CHD), their families and the health professionals who look after them. We want every baby with a serious heart condition to have the best chance of survival and quality of life. 

Tiny Tickers aims to: 

• Improve detection and diagnosis of CHD 

• Educate and support health professionals 

• Advance treatment and care of patients  

• Improve experience of families affected by CHD 

Edinburgh Food Project has revealed it has given out more than 17,500 food parcels this year – with their busiest month fast approaching. 

The charity runs seven foodbanks across the city, providing immediate relief from hunger and worry for those who don’t have enough money to live on. With Giving Tuesday – the global day of generosity and kindness – taking place on Tuesday 3 December, the charity is calling on locals to consider how they could support them in the run up to the Christmas. 

The charity’s work is built on three vital principles to help people in need across Edinburgh: relief, support and change. 

“Many of the people we see at our foodbanks are working people on low incomes, people who don’t earn enough to be able to meet the costs of daily life. That’s where the support part of our work comes in. As well as providing immediate relief and access to food for those who need it, we also run a Money Advice Service. This directly supports people who need help with debt, budgeting and benefit claims, reviews and appeals. We work with people through the whole process, offering support when they’re under real financial pressure. We are currently facing a crisis that is impacting so many ordinary people – we need to use our voice to join a chorus of others highlighting the need for long-term change. We want nothing less than to find ways to help more people move away from immediate need and out of poverty for good. Winter can be one of the busiest times for foodbanks – and last December we gave out almost 2000 parcels. That’s why this Giving Tuesday we are asking, if you can, to consider donating food or money to support the foodbanks. We may not be able to change the current economic situation, but we can do everything in our power to help those who are struggling.”

“The vital work carried out by the Edinburgh Food Project is testament to the support they have received from amazing donors and volunteers across the city. If you have ever considered getting involved in charitable giving – whether that’s volunteering, donating food parcels, buying from charity shops, or setting up regular donations, Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to get started.”

Over the past three years, demand at the Edinburgh Food Project has more than doubled. 

In December 2021 EFP gave out 723 food parcels. In December 2022 that number had risen to 1,178. Last year, it rose again to 1,814. 

Ways to Donate:  

There are a number of ways you can donate to the Edinburgh Food Project.  

• Donate Money – https://edinburghfoodproject.beaconforms.com/form/841ba158  

• Donate Food – We keep our most wanted items up to date on our website and include posters for food collections and a How-To Guide – https://edinburghfoodproject.org/donate-food/  

• Donate with online food shopping – You can donate via our Amazon WishList or Common Good Wish List – they are both listed on the website link above. You can also have a supermarket shop delivered directly to our warehouse at 12 New Lairdship Yards, Broomhouse Rd, Edinburgh EH11 3UY 

Children’s charity Action Medical Research has raised £1.2 million through its ‘Never got to’ rare disease campaign to help fund groundbreaking research into rare conditions affecting children and their families. For this year’s Giving Tuesday, they are asking everyone to think about which causes are important to them and how they can make a difference by donating money, goods or their time.  

Around 95% of rare diseases have no effective treatment or cure and 30% of children with a rare disease will lose their lives before their fifth birthday.  For families facing a life-changing diagnosis, medical research gives hope – hope for new treatments, hope for a cure and hope that in the future no family will have to go through the heartbreak of losing a child to a rare disease.  

Sally, mum of 12-year-old Danny, is painfully aware that time with her son will be cruelly cut short by Hunter syndrome.  

She said: “Just like that, everything is ripped away. All hopes and dreams for your child gone. 

“Each new development brings real hope – and that is worth fighting for, so that families in the future don’t have to feel that the bottom is dropping out of their world.” 

“The £1.2 million we have raised so far has shown us that when people come together they can make great things happen. Thanks to this support we can continue to fund vital research to develop treatments and potential cures for some devastating and often life-limiting rare diseases. This is the power of generosity and we are incredibly grateful to our donors and partners who share our commitment to funding groundbreaking research.”

Giving Tuesday is an international movement dedicated to helping charities like Action Medical Research raise vital funds, recruit volunteers, or raise awareness about the most pressing social issues. This year it will take place on 3rd December, with more than 100 countries participating.  

“This impressive achievement shows us how small acts of generosity can add up and become a force for good that transforms people’s lives. This Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for everyone to decide how they want to change the world and do one thing to make it happen. Whether you choose to donate to charities like Action Medical Research, drop off a donation at your local foodbank, or lend your voice to a campaign – even the smallest act of kindness can make a huge difference.”

About Action Medical Research 

Action Medical Research is the leading UK-wide charity dedicated to saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For over 70 years they’ve helped pioneer ways to prevent disease and develop treatments benefiting millions of people. Their research has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. But they urgently need to develop more new treatments and cures for sick babies and children and they can’t do it without you.

Website: action.org.uk

Follow on social media: @actionmedres

Alder Hey Children’s Charity, which supports Alder Hey in Liverpool through campaigning and fundraising, has seen its charity shops transform into bustling community hubs, connecting people across the Old Swan and Huyton areas of the city together and encouraging sustainability.  

This Giving Tuesday Alder Hey is asking everyone to support their own local charity shop.  

With the support of 53 volunteers across both shops, in the last five years the shops have raised a combined figure of over £1.6 million to fund life-saving equipment, pioneer innovative research and make sure all the 450,000 children and young people that come to Alder Hey each year experience that little ‘Alder Hey Magic’ – such as their state-of-the-art MediCinema for patients and their families.  

“Since opening our charity shops, we have been absolutely blown away by the response from supporters in the local area. Both our shops raise vital funds to support children and their families and every penny of that is generated through people donating their pre-loved items to us. We are immensely proud of the community we have and continue to build in our shops.”

The shops have become hubs of their local communities, with many volunteers opting to join the shop team after experiencing the wonderful work of the hospital firsthand, often within their own families. Some volunteers who have been widowed have found a new sense of community, friendship, and daily routine by volunteering. The charity also works closely with local colleges and offers supported internship programs for students struggling to enter the working world. 

The powerful impact of Alder Hey’s charity shops highlight how generosity strengthens communities. This Giving Tuesday, you can support charity shops like this by buying or donating items or signing up to volunteer. How ever you choose to help will make a big difference for people in your community.

You can find out more about Alder Hey’s charity shops here.   

“Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s shops show us the true power of giving. The simple act of donating or buying from them creates ripples of generosity that ultimately lead to children getting the vital care they need, and a stronger community for them to live in. We hope this Giving Tuesday, you take a moment to visit your local charity shop, even if it is to just have a chat with some of the staff and meet new people in your local area.”