Category Archives: Charity & CSR

Charity Horseback UK still suffering effects of Storm Arwen and in desperate need of help

At the end of November, registered charity HorseBack UK was hit hard by Storm Arwen. Dozens of trees came down around the county pulling powerlines with them, leaving the charity without power, light, heat, hot water, or phone connection for six days.

Founders Emma and Jock Hutchison were cast back into the pre-electric age, in a freezing house, with a herd of thirty-three horses to look after.

Fortunately, the Hutchisons are pretty tough. One was a Royal Marine and the other served in the police force. They tend not to complain. But even Emma, usually one of the most stoical people you could meet, said that her sense of humour was wearing pretty thin.

Storm Arwen could not have come at a worse time. After 18months of pandemic and not being able to deliver the work the charity is known for, it was just getting back on its feet. Emma, Jock and the team had re-started delivering their life changing courses to veterans and vulnerable young people, especially those suffering with mental health challenges – many of whom had had a particularly tough lockdown.

A huge amount of work had been done on logistics and installing strict safety protocols and, of course, course sizes had been reduced, limiting the number of people the team could work with and help. However, there was light at the end of the tunnel and the entire team, including the 33 horses were back to doing what they love. Until Storm Arwen roared in and stopped the charity in its tracks once again. Not only did it pull down power lines it also damaged buildings and in particular field shelters for the horses. With winter here it is imperative the horses have shelter from the cold, wet winds of northern Scotland.

‘After a tough 18 months we were thoroughly enjoying getting back to work, so to be thwarted again really tested our resilience.  The storm has done a lot of damage and we desperately need to repair or replace the field shelters for the horses. The herd is pretty tough and can cope with quite a lot but the relentless rain and wind we get can wear them down and have a negative impact on their health. And when it snows, they really do need a place to shelter. These horses are part of our family and we are pulling out all the stops to get them the shelter they need as fast as possible. We desperately need donations to help pay for the materials to build and repair the shelters.’ said co-founder Emma Hutchison.

The arrival of Arwen has also shown Emma that storms can take many forms, and that contingencies need to be put in place.

‘We realised we need to build a Storm Fund, to keep us going when the unexpected strikes. We get no government or council funding, so we are completely reliant on donations. It is the generosity of the public which enables us to do our work. If we could gather a new fund, it would help us to do additional practical things, like build new field shelters for the horses to protect them against wind and weather, and invest in a generator to keep the lights on. But it would also act as a bulwark against unheralded events, like pandemics or shifts in the economy. We want to make sure that Horseback UK can rely on the sturdiest foundations. Whatever the literal or metaphorical weather, we need to be able to go on helping veterans with life-changing injuries, as well as the young people we work with in the local community. We want to ensure that our future is stable, however unstable the external world can sometimes seem. And that is our next, dedicated mission.”

To find out more about Horseback UK and to donate to support their work and the rebuilding of the field shelters visit: www.horseback.org.uk and https://www.justgiving.com/horseback

ABOUT HORSEBACK UK:

HorseBack UK, whose patron is HRH, The Duchess of Cornwall, is a multi-award-winning Scottish charity (registration number SC040765) based near Aboyne, in the Scottish Highlands.

HorseBack UK works to improve health and well-being by inspiring recovery, positive change and renewed purpose amongst those who need it most and improving education and employment prospects for those who are disadvantaged or marginalised.

Using horsemanship (many of their horses are ex-racehorses), equine assisted learning, rural skills and the outdoors the charity delivers award-winning projects and personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies, life skills and lasting resilience whilst gaining nationally recognised awards and qualifications.  www.horseback.org.uk

­­­LM Creative Media Is Supporting Ben’s Miles For Meals

­­­LM Creative Media is delighted to be supporting ten-year-old schoolboy, Ben Dickinson who is set to take on a long-distance charity walk this spring from his hometown of Larne, to Manchester in aid of food poverty charity, FareShare UK.

FareShare, championed by Ben’s hero, Manchester United and England footballer, Marcus Rashford MBE, collects surplus food from industry and redistributes it to charities that provide meals to vulnerable and disadvantaged families right across the UK.

Inspired by Marcus to launch his own charity campaign, ‘Ben’s Miles for Meals’, the ambitious and kind-hearted youngster aims to raise enough funds to deliver 50,000 meals to those who need it most here in Northern Ireland and further afield.

We have been working closely with the project to build a website for the campaign to make it easier for people and businesses to donate and find out all about Ben and his challenge.

LM Creative Media’s Managing Director Lewis McAdam commented; “I’m delighted that we are supporting young Ben with his new challenge next year. What an incredible thing to do, he is a true inspiration. It’s also great to see many top brands coming on board to show support to Ben. I’ll have to blow the dust off the walking shoes for March. ”

“I encourage everyone to get behind Ben so he can not just reach his target but smash it!”

For more information on how to support Ben’s Miles for Meals, visit www.bensmilesformeals.com or to donate £10 towards the FareShare charity, text BEN to 70490.

Simon Holland Roberts Named as Runner Up of the Aber Falls Local Hero Competition

Simon Holland Roberts, 45, from Mochdre, has been awarded as the runner up in the Aber Falls Local Hero Competition for his commendable contribution to the local community during the pandemic, by setting up the Mochdre Community Action Group to help the vulnerable people in his community.

Simon is an Actor, Chair of the Community Council for Mochdre and Vice Chair for the governors for both schools in the community. Simon was chosen out of hundreds of nominations as a runner up, predominantly for his work bringing 50 volunteers together and forming the first Mochdre Community Action Group. Throughout the pandemic, the group, led by Simon, would collect shopping, deliver medication, fit smoke alarms and help and support elderly and vulnerable people.

Aber Falls Distillery launched the Local Hero Competition to mark the opening of its new Farmers Market in Abergwyngregyn on November 19th, whereby Simon and his family were all invited to attend and collect his prize. At the Aber Falls Farmers Market launch event, Simon was presented with an Aber Falls Deluxe Christmas Hamper, filled with popular food and drink from North Wales as well as a bevy of spirits from Aber Falls, including its latest Single Malt Welsh Whisky.

James Wright, Managing Director at Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, said: “We wanted to mark our special occasion by celebrating our local heroes and Simon is an extremely deserving runner up in the competition. Simon’s work for his local community during lockdown was an essential lifeline for the vulnerable at a time when they really needed it, and we want to thank Simon for his support of the local community and for joining us at the Aber Falls Farmers Market official opening.”

Simon has always given back to the community and has been involved with community groups and community outreach through his work with his theatre company, Pigtown Theatre CIC and ShakesVR, for over 30 years.

Simon said: “I am delighted to be a runner up in the Aber Falls Local Hero Competition and it was delightful to attend the opening with my family. Being involved with, and helping to support my community, is really important to me. I have lived in Mochdre all my life, and growing up here, I was inspired by the work my mother did as local Councillor for the Conwy County Council for 25 years.  It was my dream to follow in her footsteps. During lockdown, I also saw the difficulties my community was having, so to be able to help with deliveries and provide support during this time was just something I needed to do.”

Close friend, Vickie Plum Fleming nominated Simon for the Aber Falls Local Hero Award and commented: “Simon is an inspiration. During lockdown he wanted to help our community, so he set up the Mochdre Community Action Group to help vulnerable people. By recruiting 50 volunteers to help with essential deliveries and support, the action group really did provide a crucial lifeline to the people in our village.

“Simon also organised for easter eggs to be delivered to every child in our village for an Easter giveaway. I wanted to nominate Simon as I could see how important his work was, and the difference he made to our community.”

To find out more about the Mochdre Community Action Group visit: www.facebook.com/MochdreCommunityCouncil/ or www.facebook.com/conwyvol to volunteer in Conwy.

The Aber Falls weekly Farmer Market provides local producers with the opportunity to sell their products to the public, from permanent, authentic market stalls. You can find out more about Aber Falls and the Farmers Market by visiting www.aberfallsdistillery.com.

North East business teams with social media star to fight housing injustice this Christmas

Primula, the UK’s favourite squeezy cheese brand, is set to donate a portion of its Christmas profits to charity as part of its latest campaign with social media star Poppy Cooks.

The campaign will see £10,000 go to UK-based homelessness charity Shelter’s ‘Recipe for Change’ initiative, a cooking fundraiser that asks people to come together with their friends and family this December, enjoy food and learn more about the housing emergency.

Poppy’s request to support Shelter comes as part of a wider partnership between Primula and Poppy Cooks. In a bid to deliver an easy squeezy Christmas for all, Poppy has created a series of time saving and budget-friendly recipes that are alternatives to labour-intensive festive classics and expensive products available off the shelves.

Speaking about the collaboration, Poppy O’Toole (aka Poppy Cooks) commented: “I am so proud to say as part of this partnership, Primula offered to donate £10k to a charity of my choice, so I picked homelessness charity Shelter.

“I have always been passionate about Shelter and their amazing mission to solve the homelessness issue in the UK. Around this time of year, I think it’s especially important to appreciate family and the safety of a home. I want to do my bit to raise awareness and funds to go towards putting more roofs over more heads this Christmas.”

When asked why Poppy had teamed up with Primula Cheese she added: “Well firstly, I love it. And fun fact, my mom also loves it and has always said she’d use it as toothpaste – it tastes so good!”

After finding herself on furlough during the pandemic, Poppy channelled her food-loving energy into social media. Her easy but insanely good food helped her amass over 2m followers on TikTok and Instagram, as well as publishing her own cookbook, The Food You Need.

Using her expertise and signature social media style, Poppy has created two delicious cheesy recipes using Primula Cheese that are set to become a staple of every household this Christmas.

Poppy will be launching her recipe dupes across Instagram and TikTok this December, featuring Christmas canapes that don’t break the bank in her version of cheesy choux buns and simple but delicious mini loaded potatoes.

Poppy added: “Christmas truly is one of the most indulgent food moments in the calendar – but delicious festive dishes shouldn’t be out of reach for anyone, and it shouldn’t have to take you hours to make something to seriously impress guests either! So, I was very excited to be asked to get creative and come up with a couple of dupes for Christmas classics with Primula as the secret helper to get delicious cheesy recipes on the menu that won’t break the bank.”

Paul Lewney, Managing Director at Kavli UK, owners of Primula, commented on the collaboration: “Last Christmas was very challenging due to the restrictions that were in place and we’re all now eager to get together with our loved ones and enjoy the festive food that will be available. However, we must also take time to remember that there are many people in difficult situations that may not be able to participate in festivities in the same way.

“That’s why we are delighted to be partnering up with TikTok star Poppy O’Toole this Christmas, to help the nation make this year’s ultimate Christmas treats easily, and on a budget.

“All of Primula’s profits go to good causes across the UK and around the world, and this Christmas, Shelter will be among the major recipients thanks to our collaboration with Poppy. We’re proud to be supporting Shelter and its fight against housing injustice through the campaign.

For more information about Primula, it’s charitable donations and its collaboration with Poppy Cooks head to: https://primula.co.uk/recipes/

Furniture donation boosts coffers of homelessness charity

A homelessness charity which lost £250,000 in revenue during the pandemic has received a timely boost from a Cambridgeshire housebuilder.

Bellway donated all the showhome furniture from its sold-out The Furrows development in Warboys to Emmaus Cambridge, for sale in the charity’s shop in Landbeach.

The charity, which was founded in Cambridge and is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, now has 29 ‘communities’ in the UK which are helping more than 800 people work their way back into society.

Diane Docherty, chief executive of Emmaus Cambridge, said: “We have a site in Landbeach, near Cambridge, which is a social enterprise community.

“We are providing homes, work and support here for 44 people who have found themselves homeless due to a variety of reasons which can include family breakdown, spells in prison or addiction to drink or drugs. What we do is offer long-term support to our ‘companions’ by giving them a full-time job in our shop or café or by teaching them how to drive or allowing them to study for college qualifications.”

Diane said that the charity, which is self-funded, lost a quarter of a million pounds in revenue due to the coronavirus crisis.

“We had to close for seven months and had to furlough staff and we reckon that we lost about £250,000 due to that whole situation,” said Diane. “We need about £1.3 million to run this social enterprise each year so you can see that is a massive hit.

“This donation from Bellway is very much appreciated. We have a shop where we sell second-hand goods and people were wanting to buy the furniture before we had even got it off the van.

“The furniture was brand new and so stylish and lovely. It beautified our shop and made the place look good. The furniture flew out of the shop and made us more than £1,000. We need to try to make up what we lost during the pandemic and this is a great boost.”

Emma Thomson, Sales Manager for Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “Emmaus Cambridge does amazing work to try to help people get their lives back on track.

“As a local housebuilder we are always looking at ways we can support the local community. This charity, like most, was very badly hit by the pandemic. It receives no central funding and has to generate its own income to survive.

“We were happy to be able to donate the furniture from a showhome and are delighted to hear that the sale of it raised more than a thousand pounds.”

The Furrows development has sold out, but Bellway is currently building new homes at two other developments in Cambridgeshire – The Vickers in Witchford and Bassingbourn Fields in Fordham.

For information about these developments, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/eastern-counties.

CAPTION:

  • Bellway Sales Manager Emma Thomson and Head of Sales Rhiannon Jones with Emmaus volunteers Graham Haynes and David Westhead

Principality launches £100,000 fund for schools and community groups

Principality Building Society has announced a funding pot of £100,000 for schools and community groups in Wales to deliver financial education qualifications.

The funding, which is the largest single investment from the Society in a financial education programme to date, will allow for more secondary school students and community groups across Wales to gain qualifications in financial education from The London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF).

The qualifications equip young people with the skills to appreciate and manage their finances effectively, covering topics such as sources and uses of money, personal budgeting, making money management decisions and careers in the financial services industry.

A selection of the qualifications offered are also GCSE and A Level equivalent and can support students with their progression to higher and further education. Schools or community groups who wish to take part in the qualification will need to apply for the funding directly with LIBF.

Since 2020, Wales’ largest building society has supported 2,000 young people in Wales with financial education qualifications from the LIBF.

Vicky Wales, Chief Customer Officer at Principality Building Society said: ‘’We’re delighted to be launching the funding for secondary schools and community groups so more young people are able to gain qualifications in financial education and financial capability from The London Institute of Banking and Finance. It’s so important that young people feel confident in managing their finances and the qualifications are a brilliant way to engage students in the subject of financial education, setting them up with lifelong skills.’’

Debi Howell, Financial Capability Relationship Manager at The London Institute of Banking and Finance said: ‘’Our relationship with Principality is now in its fourth year and goes from strength to strength. We have jointly supported thousands of young people to gain not only qualifications to move on to their next stage of learning but also relevant and beneficial financial skills to help them manage their money into adulthood and make sound financial choices.”

For further information on how to apply for the funding, contact dhowell@libf.ac.uk at The London Institute of Banking and Finance or visit https://www.libf.ac.uk/.

Local Business Super Charges Greater Manchester Charity Toy Appeal

Heywood based Buyabattery.co.uk has given Greater Manchester’s Mission Christmas team an extra boost with a donation of £2,000 worth of batteries to power up toys and gadgets donated to the toy appeal.

The online battery retailer has joined forces with Hits Radio’s annual Mission Christmas campaign, run by Cash for Kids, to help ensure that thousands of disadvantaged children in Greater Manchester have a Christmas to remember.

The appeal asks people to donate a gift or cash donation for children and young people living in poverty, ensuring that they have a present to open on Christmas day. Buyabattery.co.uk’s donation will be used to ensure any battery operated toys and gadgets that have been given to the appeal are ready to use on Christmas Day.

The largest Christmas toy appeal in the UK, in 2020 Mission Christmas collected over £12.7 million in gifts and cash donations, which was used to give gifts to 254,352 children and young people across the country including 30,697 recipients in Greater Manchester. This year, with more and more people living in poverty, the charity is expecting record levels of requests for help.

Hits Radio Cash for Kids Charity Manager, Jessica Rigby, said: “We are always overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toys that are donated to the appeal and the wide variety of presents that people choose. Of course, many of the post popular children’s toys and gadgets require batteries to make them work which is why this donation by Buyabattery.co.uk is such a fantastic added bonus to the appeal. It’s with great thanks that Darren and Teresa Jones came along to our donations hub to deliver the batteries personally.”

Darren Jones, Managing Director of Buyabattery.co.uk, said: “We knew that we had to be part of Mission Christmas this year, and to ensure that any toys donated had spare batteries to go with them. It is an absolutely fantastic campaign that makes such a huge difference to the lives of so many young people and children on Christmas day.

“It was really inspiring to visit the North West’s Mission Christmas warehouse to meet Jessica and see how the gifts and presents are sorted and despatched to spread some Christmas magic across the region. It feels good to know that we are playing a small part in helping to support this appeal. I would urge any other local business to get involved in any way that they can.”

For further details about Mission Christmas, including information on how to get involved or make a donation, please visit www.hitsradio.co.uk/mission.

Pride campaigners seek rainbow of support

LGBT awareness charity Chase Pride is encouraging locals to lace up and speak up in support of greater diversity in sports.

The organisation, which is bringing the first ever Pride event to the Cannock Chase area in 2022, is teaming up with local shops and venues to sell rainbow laces as part of a national campaign to eradicate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sports spaces for players and fans.

Bella’s Coffee Shop in Market Street, Hednesford, is the first venue to sign up to sell the rainbow laces, but Chase Pride would love to hear from other shops and venues willing to host a box.

Each pair of laces costs £3. As well as raising awareness of the campaign, the sales will help Chase Pride further its educational programme.

The Rainbow Laces campaign was started by equality charity Stonewall to help ensure people who are lesbian, gay, bi and trans feel welcome in sports environments.

Millions of people engage with the initiative every year, either wearing laces or sharing information on social media. A number of sports men and women will show their support this month.

The Premier League and EFL were among those kicking off a visible show of support wearing laces at recent games and seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton made a powerful statement at the Qatar Grand Prix in November by wearing a rainbow-coloured helmet bearing the slogan ‘We Stand Together’.

Chair of Chase Pride, Kathryn Downs, said: “This is a really important campaign with a message that needs to be shared.

“Sport should bring people together and create a sense of belonging and community through shared passion. It should be accessible to people from all walks of life and LGBTQ+ people deserve to be a part of this. We shouldn’t feel excluded or shut out just because of who we are.

“As a charity promoting greater understanding and inclusivity for the LGBT community across Cannock Chase, we felt this was an initiative that deserved a local voice.”

Kathryn added: “There are still some worrying statistics.”

She said relevant findings included:

  • Research carried out last year by ICM for Stonewall showed that one in five sports fans still think anti-LGBTQ+ language is harmless if it is just meant as ‘banter’.
  • And a recent study found that across Europe, eight in ten (82 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people active in sport have witnessed homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the preceding 12 months.
  • A survey in 2019 conducted by Out in Sport found a third (33 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people who participate or follow sport are not out to anyone in their sporting life.
  • In 2017, Stonewall discovered 43 per cent of LGBTQ+ people thought public sporting events weren’t a welcoming space for them. (YouGov for Stonewall, 2017).

“This campaign, however, is making a significant difference,” Kathryn added.

The same survey, from last year, showed two thirds of sports fans who saw Rainbow Laces consider they have a responsibility to stick up for LGBTQ+ fans of the teams and sports they follow – an increase on the previous statistic.

Kathryn added: “Whether you’re a team, an individual sports player or a fan, showing your support by sporting rainbow laces can help make a difference.

“The more people who lace up and speak up for LGBTQ+ inclusion, the more chance we have of making sport everyone’s game.”

To find out more about Chase Pride visit www.chasepride.org.uk

To show your support and host a box of rainbow laces throughout December, please email kathryn.downs@chasepride.org.uk

Daring new scheme offers ex-gang members a new start

Former gang members are being given a helping hand to turn their lives around thanks to a groundbreaking new scheme being run in the West Midlands.

The young people are being paired up with business people who will mentor them and offer them advice on following a new path and leaving a life of crime behind.

REAL Leaders, a community interest company based in Birmingham, in partnership with Leaders in Business, is running the scheme, called The Blue Project. It is looking for new mentors to sign up and learn leadership skills in a complex and challenging situation at the same time.

Richard Egan, Founder of Real Leaders

Richard Egan, founder of REAL Leaders, said: “Many of our young people are not bad people, yet when you grow up in a deprived area, you don’t meet career professionals, let alone have a chance to be mentored by one.

“Instead, they often meet drug dealers and gang members and that’s what they know. Our programmes make sure that these young people meet and spend meaningful time with career professionals.”

He added: “Mentors on the programme are good people, people that most people caught up in gang crime are not likely to meet.”

Richard said he had 12 mentors signed up to the scheme, which runs for 18 months, and is now looking to find four more.

The government has just announced a £300 million investment to crack down on gangs profiting from the trade in illegal drugs and Richard said The Blue Project would complement that, stopping talented youngsters from being sucked back into the world of drugs and crime.

“It’s a demanding and daring programme, but it’s also proving inspiring and exciting and it’s making a difference in so many ways,” he added.

Former drug baron John Burton, (above) who has now turned his life around, is among those professionals supporting the project.

John started his criminal career as a teenager and served long stretches in prison for money laundering and cigarette smuggling as well as drugs offences. His story is featured in episode 2 of the Sky documentary Liverpool Narcos.

When he left prison in 2017, he launched Inside Connections, a community interest company dedicated to helping young people leaving custody, care or the armed forces find the right path intro training and employment.

He said: “I have been involved in criminality for a long time; I was involved in drugs internationally; I was involved in cigarettes internationally; I was involved in laundering large amounts of money. But for all that money, if I could change the 16 years that I had in prison sentences, I would change it tomorrow.

“If I was offered the opportunity to sit with a mentor who had done well for themselves in business and I knew they had made a lot of money and done it right I would have changed my life a long time ago.

“Unfortunately for me when I was a child and when I was growing up there was none of that around.”

He added: “The Blue Project is a fantastic opportunity to help 18 to 24 year olds. Just imagine, if we change one life then we’ve got something to be proud of, but I believe we can change a lot more lives.”

Sally Ward, director of operations at REAL Leaders, said mentors would also benefit greatly from the scheme, learning valuable leadership skills. “Using the skills that you’ve learned, you’ll be able to start to assess situations more quickly; think about how you can get the best out of the person you are working with and also consider what the best course of action might be to support that individual,” she said.

“It will not only change the lives of the young people that we link with but will also have the potential to change the lives of our learners too.”

To find out more about REAL Leaders and to get involved, visit https://real-leaders.org.uk/ or email r.egan@real-leaders.org.uk

Bridge Health & Wellbeing becomes official sponsor at Weymouth Football Club

Bridge Health & Wellbeing, based in Christchurch, Dorset, is delighted to have become a health and wellbeing partner at Weymouth Football Club.

One of the biggest football clubs in Dorset, Weymouth FC is a semi-professional club currently competing in the Vanarama National League. Bridge Health & Wellbeing will be providing specialist physiotherapy services, chiropractic treatments and sports massage services to players.

Paul O’Connell, lead physiotherapist and co-founder of Bridge Health & Wellbeing said: “We are delighted to be working with Weymouth Football Club. Our clinical team have a wealth of experience in professional sport so teaming up with a club like Weymouth is a great union for both parties. We have already treated several of their players for football-related injuries. Footballers regularly suffer from injuries including sprained ankles, anterior cruciate ligament injuries, hamstring strains, groin strains and knee injuries. We are keen to make sure players get back to full strength as quickly as possible and are ready to give their best on the pitch for the fans. As a major sports team in our area, we are proud to be playing our part in supporting their success.”

Weymouth has had a successful few years, being crowned overall Southern League Premier champions in the 2018/2019 season and securing promotion to the National League South. Weymouth finished the 2019/20 season in 3rd place and on 1 August 2020, they were promoted to the National League after a play-off final win against Dartford.

Brian Stock, First Team Manager at Weymouth Football Club commented: “It is important that as a club we look after our players. Knowing we have the added help and expertise from Bridge Health and Wellbeing will give us the reassurance we need to protect our players.”

Bridge Health & Wellbeing provides physiotherapy, chiropractic, sports massage, rehabilitation services and  Pilates, yoga and Qigong classes from their state-of-the-art fitness space on Bridge Street in Christchurch, Dorset. Their team of experts can help you get better, build strength and feel happy and healthy in your mind and body. To find out more or book your appointment contact 01202 473800 or email info@bridgehw.com.