What small, effective charities are you involved in?
Discussion
My wife and I support This one;
http://www.icklepickles.org
It was founded by friends of ours after their son was born prematurely eight years ago. Most of us would have given the new-natal ITU nurses a case of champagne, written a fat cheque to the hospital charity and got on with their lives but not Andy and Rachael. What they have done is fantastic and we know exactly where the money raised goes
http://www.icklepickles.org
It was founded by friends of ours after their son was born prematurely eight years ago. Most of us would have given the new-natal ITU nurses a case of champagne, written a fat cheque to the hospital charity and got on with their lives but not Andy and Rachael. What they have done is fantastic and we know exactly where the money raised goes
The National Migraine Centre - http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk (the website won Best Charity Website of the Year and Most Popular Charity Website of the Year so worth a look)
A great small national charity that supports people suffering from migraine and headaches with clinical care, training medical practitioners and research. Runs on a shoe string, receives no government funding and doesn't have the "je ne sais quoi" that children, cancer etc. charities have despite 1 in 10 suffering from migraine.
Well done for starting this topic. I'm fed up with seeing cancer/hospice/animal care charities, which are all worthy causes, wasting money and getting all the attention and support.
A great small national charity that supports people suffering from migraine and headaches with clinical care, training medical practitioners and research. Runs on a shoe string, receives no government funding and doesn't have the "je ne sais quoi" that children, cancer etc. charities have despite 1 in 10 suffering from migraine.
Well done for starting this topic. I'm fed up with seeing cancer/hospice/animal care charities, which are all worthy causes, wasting money and getting all the attention and support.
I volunteer at Telford Steam Railway as Marketing Manager and as a Tram Guard. we have about 30-40 active volunteers and we all muck in. It's great seeing people having a great time when they visit and talking to them, and seeing articles you have written/contributed to in local papers increasing peoples awareness that we are there.
Ultimately we are aiming to run Heritage Steam into the ironbridge gorge, and open a visitor centre about the history of tram and railways in Telford. I know it's not directly helping sick children, but we get a lot of special needs children come and have "best day ever" which is very rewarding.
Ultimately we are aiming to run Heritage Steam into the ironbridge gorge, and open a visitor centre about the history of tram and railways in Telford. I know it's not directly helping sick children, but we get a lot of special needs children come and have "best day ever" which is very rewarding.
Nothing organised like the ones already mentioned, but I do help out a local school. It's only a small village primary school and as such has trouble raising the usual funds simply due to the low number of pupils and subsequent parents/relatives etc.
I sporadically assist with equipment sourcing, either financially or directly sourcing some of the shopping list. I tend to concentrate on the extra-curricular requirements or unusual requests.
For instance, the vegetable garden has been well established for a few years now after a lorry arrived with the sleepers, compost and other gubbins. Finding an antique metal tripod so that the camp fires at the Forest School could be used to make soup and whatnot was awesome and much appreciated!
I sporadically assist with equipment sourcing, either financially or directly sourcing some of the shopping list. I tend to concentrate on the extra-curricular requirements or unusual requests.
For instance, the vegetable garden has been well established for a few years now after a lorry arrived with the sleepers, compost and other gubbins. Finding an antique metal tripod so that the camp fires at the Forest School could be used to make soup and whatnot was awesome and much appreciated!
I run a charity in my spare time which primarily provides affordable day-care to the elderly and disabled.
Some of the users would be completely isolated and stuck at home without us.
Over the course of a week it's usually just short of 150 different people who we pick up, feed and amuse.
It's highly rewarding, and only feasible due to the volunteers who supplement the professional staff.
Some of the users would be completely isolated and stuck at home without us.
Over the course of a week it's usually just short of 150 different people who we pick up, feed and amuse.
It's highly rewarding, and only feasible due to the volunteers who supplement the professional staff.
manic47 said:
I run a charity in my spare time which primarily provides affordable day-care to the elderly and disabled.
Some of the users would be completely isolated and stuck at home without us.
Over the course of a week it's usually just short of 150 different people who we pick up, feed and amuse.
It's highly rewarding, and only feasible due to the volunteers who supplement the professional staff.
That's a really wonderul thing to do. A few years ago I listened to Ester Ransen talk about loneliness and isolation and though I cannot stomach her, what she said really struk a cord with me that loneliness, especially in the old is a huge killer. Bravo, I wish you every success. Some of the users would be completely isolated and stuck at home without us.
Over the course of a week it's usually just short of 150 different people who we pick up, feed and amuse.
It's highly rewarding, and only feasible due to the volunteers who supplement the professional staff.
ClaphamGT3 said:
My wife and I support This one;
http://www.icklepickles.org
It was founded by friends of ours after their son was born prematurely eight years ago. Most of us would have given the new-natal ITU nurses a case of champagne, written a fat cheque to the hospital charity and got on with their lives but not Andy and Rachael. What they have done is fantastic and we know exactly where the money raised goes
The problem with this is the hospital already have money to buy this equipment and by giving them the money/equipment they can spend more of our taxes on rubbish instead of what counts. I've seen it countless times.http://www.icklepickles.org
It was founded by friends of ours after their son was born prematurely eight years ago. Most of us would have given the new-natal ITU nurses a case of champagne, written a fat cheque to the hospital charity and got on with their lives but not Andy and Rachael. What they have done is fantastic and we know exactly where the money raised goes
Both of our dogs are from a rescue centre in Greece, its a small charity with no more than about 3 volunteers, and they help literally thousands of dogs, stopping them from being brutally killed by restaurant owners and re-homing them across the world.
We have donated a fair bit and each donation has directly saved numerous lives.
You can read our thread from the start here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
We have donated a fair bit and each donation has directly saved numerous lives.
You can read our thread from the start here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I do what i can for this charity; http://www.2wishuponastar.org/my-boys/.
I had many "touch points" with the story behind the charity so quite poignant for me.
The charity is now making a real difference in that most hopsitals in south wales have a structure and funding to provide immediate bereavement support to any parent who lose a child unexpectedly.
I had many "touch points" with the story behind the charity so quite poignant for me.
The charity is now making a real difference in that most hopsitals in south wales have a structure and funding to provide immediate bereavement support to any parent who lose a child unexpectedly.
Not a charity per se but a small (but growing) fundraising group for specialist war veterans charities - www.brave.support
YarisSi said:
The National Migraine Centre - http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk (the website won Best Charity Website of the Year and Most Popular Charity Website of the Year so worth a look)
A great small national charity that supports people suffering from migraine and headaches with clinical care, training medical practitioners and research. Runs on a shoe string, receives no government funding and doesn't have the "je ne sais quoi" that children, cancer etc. charities have despite 1 in 10 suffering from migraine.
Well done for starting this topic. I'm fed up with seeing cancer/hospice/animal care charities, which are all worthy causes, wasting money and getting all the attention and support.
Well done you. I suffer really badly from migranes and cluster headaches to the point of maddening distraction. I will say (touch wood) that I have not been hit by a bout of it for a few months.A great small national charity that supports people suffering from migraine and headaches with clinical care, training medical practitioners and research. Runs on a shoe string, receives no government funding and doesn't have the "je ne sais quoi" that children, cancer etc. charities have despite 1 in 10 suffering from migraine.
Well done for starting this topic. I'm fed up with seeing cancer/hospice/animal care charities, which are all worthy causes, wasting money and getting all the attention and support.
I'm a trustee for a charity formed (well reformed/expanded) earlier this year, now renamed Brighter Horizons.
http://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/brighter-hori...
A short back-story - As part of the Austerity measures the local council were closing all of the community centers (daily respite) for adults with SEN (Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy etc.) across the whole borough, justification being cost of operation and that the PIP everybody now receives (dependent on level of disability) in exchange could be used for their benefit. As with all groups friendships etc had been formed, carers often worked and it would have resulted in them becoming housebound.
A few parents/carers set up their own day centre to fill the gap, taking the PIP payment (less cost than the original operation) and have set up their own daily respite centre, I assist with the general business/operations/financing requirements. Over the 5 months its been open they now look after +30 clients, 100% more than the old friendship group, and have insatiable demand with many more people wanting to come (Social services referrals mainly) and as such we are now exploring options for a larger/second location plus associated staffing, minibus etc.
Given it only started a few months ago the clients are immaterially happier, even more so than where they were previously under the care of the council. Already we've had 2 go on week long UK breaks and return within a few days wanting to be back - always a good sign!
All has been done without any external funding, founders put in some S/T cashflow loans which were fully repaid within months and we have had public backing, the thanks of David Cameron and high profile support from Harry Hill (a truely great guy in person). I'm currently trying to get a website going and the final start-up issues sorted between work and a house remodelling but after that we'll be looking for further funding to expand it further in the current borough (Lewisham) and then into the surroundings, the tough bit is finding locations capable of accommodating the centre (DDA compliant, room to set up incontinence changing facilitates etc.) at a reasonable price!
http://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/brighter-hori...
A short back-story - As part of the Austerity measures the local council were closing all of the community centers (daily respite) for adults with SEN (Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy etc.) across the whole borough, justification being cost of operation and that the PIP everybody now receives (dependent on level of disability) in exchange could be used for their benefit. As with all groups friendships etc had been formed, carers often worked and it would have resulted in them becoming housebound.
A few parents/carers set up their own day centre to fill the gap, taking the PIP payment (less cost than the original operation) and have set up their own daily respite centre, I assist with the general business/operations/financing requirements. Over the 5 months its been open they now look after +30 clients, 100% more than the old friendship group, and have insatiable demand with many more people wanting to come (Social services referrals mainly) and as such we are now exploring options for a larger/second location plus associated staffing, minibus etc.
Given it only started a few months ago the clients are immaterially happier, even more so than where they were previously under the care of the council. Already we've had 2 go on week long UK breaks and return within a few days wanting to be back - always a good sign!
All has been done without any external funding, founders put in some S/T cashflow loans which were fully repaid within months and we have had public backing, the thanks of David Cameron and high profile support from Harry Hill (a truely great guy in person). I'm currently trying to get a website going and the final start-up issues sorted between work and a house remodelling but after that we'll be looking for further funding to expand it further in the current borough (Lewisham) and then into the surroundings, the tough bit is finding locations capable of accommodating the centre (DDA compliant, room to set up incontinence changing facilitates etc.) at a reasonable price!
My favourite charity is the Hollybank Trust which provides education and assistance for children with severe physical and mental issues:
http://www.hollybanktrust.com/learning-at-hollyban...
These children have been placed on this earth with these problems, no fault of their own, and have huge obstacles to overcome.
http://www.hollybanktrust.com/learning-at-hollyban...
These children have been placed on this earth with these problems, no fault of their own, and have huge obstacles to overcome.
Robbo 27 said:
My favourite charity is the Hollybank Trust which provides education and assistance for children with severe physical and mental issues:
http://www.hollybanktrust.com/learning-at-hollyban...
These children have been placed on this earth with these problems, no fault of their own, and have huge obstacles to overcome.
That brings back some memories my mates dad used to be the head teacher there and lived in the old house on the end of the building. I have happy memories of building a massive scalextrix track in the main hall. My mate had a nice sideline in charging customers for the garden centre a pound to parkup.http://www.hollybanktrust.com/learning-at-hollyban...
These children have been placed on this earth with these problems, no fault of their own, and have huge obstacles to overcome.
I do some work with Beat, basically offering free consultancy after they helped bring back a friends daughter from the brink. Not a small charity but a very effective one,
Hope & Homes for Children
http://www.hopeandhomes.org/
It takes children out of institutionalised care and moves them into small, loving family homes.
www.get2gether.org.uk
I'm a trustee, and we offer the chance for friendship and social events for adults with learning and physical disabilities. Our aim is to do normal things in normal places, moving away from being a ring fenced service provider and building confidence. The aim is for our members to not need us - for example we run a club night, and as a result some of our members now go to mainstream nightclubs.
I got involved because a family member attends their events, and I do what I can to support the organisation in its growth.
A video showing what we do is here
I'm a trustee, and we offer the chance for friendship and social events for adults with learning and physical disabilities. Our aim is to do normal things in normal places, moving away from being a ring fenced service provider and building confidence. The aim is for our members to not need us - for example we run a club night, and as a result some of our members now go to mainstream nightclubs.
I got involved because a family member attends their events, and I do what I can to support the organisation in its growth.
A video showing what we do is here
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