Tag Archives: charity

Johnson Cleaners Appeal For Old Wedding Outfits. First Ever Wedding Amnesty

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Vintage_Wedding_DressesBrides and grooms across the country are this month being asked to donate ‘something old’ for charity in the form of wedding outfits, as part of the first ever national wedding outfit amnesty.

 

Building on its established credentials as a dry cleaning specialist within the wedding industry, Johnson Cleaners has teamed up with The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation – which organises and funds weddings for people with terminal illnesses and life limiting conditions – to offer its dry cleaning services as well as to help raise awareness and much needed funds for the charity.

 

The UK’s leading dry cleaning provider is urging people to drop off their wedding dresses and suits, as well as bridesmaids’ outfits, at any of its stores nationwide; all items donated will either be used by prospective brides and grooms being supported by the charity or sold to raise funds for weddings organised by the charity.

 

The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation was set up in 2012 by wedding planner, Naomi Thomas, after she married her partner while suffering from secondary breast cancer; the start of the amnesty also marks Naomi’s first year wedding anniversary.

 

Talking about the amnesty, Naomi said: “We originally approached Johnson Cleaners to help support the charity through cleaning, as well as alterations and repairs to outfits that had already been donated; we were blown away when the team not only agreed to offer these services to us, but also developed a national campaign idea designed to get the whole country talking about the Foundation.

 

“We want to help create the perfect wedding day for as many people with terminal illnesses and life limiting conditions as possible and our partnership with Johnson Cleaners will have a huge impact on helping us to achieve this goal.

 

“Everyone deserves a magical wedding day and a donation to the amnesty could help make this dream a reality for the couples we work with.”

 

The partnership will see Johnson Cleaners altering and dry cleaning up to 10 outfits a week free of charge for the charity.

 

Paul Ogle, managing director of Johnson Cleaners, said: “We were captivated by Naomi’s story and the work the charity is doing within the UK, so we created a campaign that would enable people up and down the country to get involved.

 

“Whether you’re thinking about donating an outfit or you’re looking for an outfit yourself, we want to encourage people to support the amnesty in any way they can.”

 

Any outfits donated as part of the amnesty and not used by brides and grooms working with The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation will be sold at open day events due to be set up by the charity throughout the summer.

 

The amnesty begins today and runs throughout the remainder of the month.

 

For further information visit http://www.johnsoncleaners.co.uk/wish/

 

Liz Earle Launches ‘Second Chance’ Charity LiveTwice

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Liz Earle MBE writer, broadcaster and entrepreneur who co-founded the Liz Earle Beauty Co. has launched her ‘second chance’ charity LiveTwice.

The charity works with disadvantaged people of all ages to offer opportunities for skills training and personal support. As well as funding skills training, LiveTwice also fund community centres in areas of social need, as well as a respite home-from-home for children with disabilities in a rural Dorset community.Liz Earle and Hannah White

 

The charity gives a hand-up not a hand out

LiveTwice helps empower those in need to make the most of their lives, helping to break the cycle of poverty, abuse and unemployment that destroys the individual and leads to the breakdown of families and society.

 

LiveTwice is all about offering opportunity in a practical way.

LiveTwice also offer a match-making service which give donors the freedom to donate to a specific project or place that interests them, in a very easy, safe and rewarding way. A new way to encourage global philanthropy.

 Jasmine Guinness

Liz Earle MBE said: ‘LiveTwice already does a lot and there is a lot to do!  Over the years, my research and filming travels have taken me to people and places far and wide who are in desperate need of a helping hand.  LiveTwice provides just that-with a hand-up, not just a hand out.’

Liz’s daughter, Amaryllis Earle is a Founding Trustee of LiveTwice with a focus on working with children and young people.

For more information on LiveTwice, please visit: www.livetwice.org or follow twitter.com/LiveTwiceOrg

Will The Royal Baby Be Elizabeth III?

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Will the Royal Baby be Elizabeth III? Duchess and Duke of CambridgeAfter months of royal baby speculation, it appears the nation believes the new royal arrival will be a girl named Elizabeth born on the 7th July.

These predictions came out top in a poll of nearly 4,000 fellow expectant mums who were asked to guess the sex, name and the date the royal baby would arrive on parenting website Bounty.com.

Despite recent rumours of Harry letting it slip that the royal couple are expecting a boy and Kate buying a blue Bugaboo pram, two thirds still believe the new arrival will be a princess.

And when it comes to naming their firstborn, most think the couple will be ‘keeping it in the family’ with Elizabeth the most popular choice, closely followed by Diana, Victoria and Alexandra.

These echo the recent ‘Royal Baby Odds’ released by Ladbrokes, which favour Kate giving birth to a girl at 2-5 with the same names as front-runners at 6-1.

Lisa Penney, spokesmum for Bounty.com, whose ‘Royal Baby Guesser’ competition is asking new mums and pregnant women to cast their predictions for the royal baby. “Everyone loves a royal baby and as speculation reaches fever pitch we thought it would be fun to ask our members for their own predictions,” says Lisa.

“The results show even though Kate and Wills are seen as modern, contemporary royals, people still think they will plump for a traditional royal name.”

When it comes to boys names, George – most widely rumoured to be favoured by the couple for a son – comes out on top, followed by James, Henry and Edward.

Interestingly, it seems new mums are already taking name inspiration from the royals with Bounty Parenting Club’s most recent baby names report revealing both George and James were among the top ten names given to baby boys by new parents in April.

However, the ‘most likely for a princess’ girls names have some catching up to do with Elizabeth the 42nd most popular name given to baby girls in April, Alexandra the 69th, whilst Diana just makes the top 100 at 84th.

And despite recent reports of a ‘family friend’ letting it slip that the baby is due on 13th July, 7th July came out top as the date believed most likely for the baby making its arrival, followed by the 17th and the 14th July.

Lisa continues: “Our records show that year after year parents continue to be influenced by popular culture and celebrity, so it’s highly likely that whatever name the royal couple go for they’ll be setting a baby-naming trend for the future.

“And it does seem that even rumours surrounding the possible name they’ll go for are enough to inspire new parents. Our latest baby data shows sharp increases since the beginning of the year for Diana (up 200%), Elizabeth (up 22%) and George (up 10%), leaping up seven places to become the eighth most popular name for baby boys in the UK.”

There is still time to take part in bounty.com’s ‘royal baby guesser’ competition for your chance to win a ‘Princess for a Day’ experience worth £1,000. Visit http://www.bounty.com/royal-baby/royal-baby-competition to case your own predictions.


TOP TEN PRINCESS NAME PREDICTIONS

1.      Elizabeth

2.      Diana

3.      Victoria

4.      Alexandra

5.      Charlotte

6.      Sophia

7.      Emily

8.      Mary

9.      Grace

10.    Olivia

 

TOP TEN PRINCE NAME PREDICTIONS

1.      George

2.      James

3.      Henry

4.      Edward

5.      Charles

6.      William

7.      Philip

8.      Alexander

9.      Arthur

10.    Richard

 

TOP TEN BIRTH DATE PREDICTIONS

1.      7th July

2.      17th July

3.      14th July

4.      15th July

5.      6th July

6.      12th July

7.      16th July

8.      10th July

9.      5th July

10.    3rd July

What do you think the royal baby will be called?

 

Pet Loving Celebrities Go ‘Potty’ For Charity Fundraising Event

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Pet loving celebrities including Cheska Hull, Laura Hamilton, Sinitta, Felicity Kendal, Arlene Phillips, Kristina Rihanoff, Lizzie Cundy, Meg Matthews, Liz McClarnon, Hayley Tamaddon and Jenni Falconer have joined forces to support this year’s Blue Cross Tea Party.

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The celebrities have been challenged to showcase their artistic flair by designing their own special edition pet-themed teapot, to be auctioned to raise funds to help sick and homeless pets.  The celebrities are also calling for the public to sign up to host tea parties across the country on Friday 10th May, to help make a difference to the lives of thousands of pets in Blue Cross care.

The fifteen pet loving celebrities supporting the great work of Blue Cross also include much-loved actresses Pam Ferris and Olivia Colman; plus fabulous TV personalities Debbie Bright and Ollie Locke, Made in Chelsea’s finest.

 

The colourful teapot designs range from Cheska Hull, Jenni Falconer and Laura Hamilton’s paw-print motifs, Liz McClarnon’s  creative, cute cat artwork to Arlene Phillips’ pooch ‘Polly’ taking centre stage as the inspiration behind her teapot design.
Lizzie Cundy said: ‘I just love animals, I have two cats at home that I absolutely adore. The work that Blue Cross does really is so important in helping to provide happy homes for thousands of pets a year.”

 

Cheska Hull said: “I am a huge animal lover and it’s heart breaking that there are so many pets out there that don’t have a loving home. The work the Blue Cross does helps to ensure they can get a second chance at life.  So take to your kitchens and get out your mixing bowls – Britain’s pets need you!”

 

Arlene Phillips said; “I have been busy mastering my baking skills for the Blue Cross Tea Party and I want to appeal to all the pet lovers out there to do the same.  I used to really struggle with baking but ever since I did the Great British Bake Off, I love to shut myself away in the kitchen for a few hours whipping up a Victoria sponge or some scones to share with the family. I actually find it very therapeutic, and what’s great is that anyone can have a go to help this fantastic cause. With a huge rise in stray and abandoned pets over the last few years, Blue Cross needs our help more than ever to continue caring for pets in need.”

 

The auction will take place from (2nd-12th May) so don’t miss out on your chance to get involved and bid on your favourite pet-inspired teapot by visiting www.bluecross.org.uk/teapots. To order your free Tea Party host pack full of ideas and recipes, visit www.bluecross.org.uk/teaparty.

 

Puppy Bella was recently helped by Blue Cross. Part of an unwanted litter, when Bella first arrived she was covered in fleas and her tender skin was red and sore from scratching. Blue Cross nurses provided the vital veterinary care needed to slowly help Bella’s skin improve and she was cared for by a Blue Cross fosterer whilst she recuperated and returned to health. Bella has now found a permanent home with a family who give her the love she deserves.

 

Blue Cross is a charity dedicated to helping poorly, injured and abandoned pets for over 100 years, doing what’s needed to give every pet a healthy life in a happy home. They run four animal hospitals and 12 rehoming centres across the UK, which provide treatment and seek happy homes for thousands of cats, dogs, small pets and horses each year.

Blue Cross Tea Party, find out more at www.bluecross.org.uk/teaparty

Katy Perry teams up with UNICEF and visits children in Madagascar

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Beautiful and talented singer/songwriter Katy Perry has visited Madagascar to bring attention to the situation of children in the tropical island country, one of the poorest in the world and still recovering from a political crisis that began in 2009.

 

“In less than one week here in Madagascar, I went from crowded city slums to the most remote villages and my eyes were widely opened by the incredible need for a healthy life – nutrition, sanitation, and protection against rape and abuse – which UNICEF are stepping in to help provide,” Perry said.

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“I am grateful to UNICEF for giving me the opportunity to see first-hand how their programmes make a real difference in children’s lives. Support for UNICEF is saving children, I am a witness to it.”

On her first visit in support of UNICEF, Perry saw a full range of programmes, from education, nutrition, health and child protection to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Beginning her trip in a slum area of the capital Antananarivo, she visited a child protection centre and met abused and abandoned children and young mothers receiving support and counseling. More than three out of four children in Madagascar live in extreme poverty, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Most international donors have frozen development aid following the 2009 crisis, forcing the government to make drastic cuts in public spending and resulting in large parts of the population not having access to basic health care and primary education. Perry visited a UNICEF supported pre-school and a primary school built to enable children to go back to school.

At the Sahavola pre-school, 117 boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6 receive a quality early education and learn the importance of thinking creatively and working collaboratively. They are also encouraged to participate in health and hygiene practices at an early age. To promote proper hygiene and sanitation, UNICEF constructed latrines and sinks at the pre-school, where Perry took in hand washing with the children.

The old village primary school, made from sticks and with a thatched roof, was destroyed by one of the tropical cyclones that hit the island every year. It was replaced by UNICEF with a solid, cyclone-resistant building.

 

 

Schooling rates in Madagascar are alarmingly low. Only three children out of every 10 who start primary school complete the cycle. Two-thirds of teachers have not received any formal training.

 

UNICEF and national school authorities are working to improve the situation through school construction and providing learning materials, training for teachers and supporting community action plans for education.

“An education is an incredible opportunity here. I visited a very remote community, where children and teachers walk for 45 minutes just to get to school. This is a testament to how appreciative they are about their education,” said Perry in the UNICEF- supported primary school in the village of Ampihaonana.

In the nutrition centre in Androranga village, Perry learned about UNICEF’s efforts to tackle another serious problem of the country – chronic malnutrition. Half the children in Madagascar are chronically malnourished, putting the country among the six worst in the world for chronic malnutrition.

 

Poor maternal nutrition, poor feeding practices and poor food quality contribute to the failure of these children to reach their full potential mentally and physically. The centre, run by a community health worker, identifies cases and works with village mothers to improve children’s nutrition, including focusing on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life.

Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller join forces to demand George Osborne keep his promises on aid

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Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller join forces to demand George Osborne keep his promises on aid

 

Chancellor George Osborne will be in the good books of a host of stars – including Mo Farah, Robbie Williams, Ewan McGregor and Sienna Miller – IF he keeps his promises on international aid in the forthcoming Budget on March 20th.

 

Stars from the world of music, film and sport have joined forces to write a joint letter to George Osborne, urging him to take action to help end world hunger. Nearly thirty high profile individuals beseech him to keep his promises on international aid and crack down on tax dodging by big businesses working in poor countries.

 

The letter:

Dear Chancellor,

 

I am writing to thank you for your leadership in protecting the aid budget. By announcing in the Budget that the UK will give 0.7% of national income to life saving aid, you’ll be making good a 43-year-old promise and helping millions of people in their fight against poverty and hunger

 

In 2012, the UK demonstrated inspiring global leadership and community spirit through our hosting of the Olympic Games. This year, the UK Government has an opportunity to build on that promising legacy, when it hosts a major summit on food and hunger and chairs the G8 in June.

 

Keeping our word and doing the right thing are part of what Britain stands for. We can be proud that, in the face of crises, in good times and bad, the British public show great strength and generosity. Because of this, we can be collectively proud that huge strides have been made in reducing poverty and 14,000 fewer children are dying each day than in 1990.

 

The world is at a tipping point where we could abolish absolute poverty but hunger is threatening to reverse these achievements. Food prices have been higher than ever in recent years, affecting people everywhere and climate change is making things worse.

 

By matching the strength of spirit of the British people, we could be the generation that starts to end hunger.

 

No budget decisions can be taken lightly, but investing in the long term will be cheaper for all of us. We simply can’t afford hunger to rise to the emergency famine levels we saw in 2011.

 

In order for poor countries to be self-sufficient, as well as investment in aid they also need their own revenue to spend on fighting hunger. That is why the IF campaign is also calling on the UK and other governments to change global rules to make sure companies pay their fair share of tax in the poor countries in which they operate.

 

Along with others, I am proud that the UK is keeping its promise to provide 0.7% of our income for life saving aid and leading the way on vital tax reforms, which will provide a lasting solution for the world’s poorest people.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Mo Farah, Olympic Gold Medallist; Robbie Williams, Singer; Ewan McGregor, Actor

Bill Nighy, Actor; Jemima Khan, Journalist and Campaigner; Sienna Miller, Actor; Raymond Blanc, Chef; Dermot O’Leary, Presenter; Helena Christensen, Model; Angelique Kidjo, Singer; Michael Sheen, Actor; Eddie Izzard, Comedian; Shazia Mirza, Comedienne; Tamsin Greig, Actor; Tom Hiddleston, Actor; Keeley Hawes, Actor; Joanne Froggatt, Actor; Fay Ripley, Actor; Valentine Warner, Chef; Vivek Singh, Chef; Emilia Fox, Actor; Miriam Margolyes, Actor; Jimmy Doherty, Presenter ; Roger Lloyd Pack, Actor ; Billy Boyd, Actor; Atul Kochar, Chef; Jun Tanaka, Chef, Cat Deeley, TV Presenter

 

 

Jenny Ricks, Enough Food for Everyone spokesperson said:

“Millions of people across the UK backed Make Poverty History and we can be proud that the Government will next week deliver on a promise we made then to the world’s poorest.

“British aid will help many of the 1 in 8 people in the world who go to bed hungry each night.

 

“This Budget can also assist poor countries to help themselves by enabling them to collect taxes from companies refusing to pay their fair share.

 

“Trillions of pounds is hidden in tax havens while people in the UK are struggling to make ends meet and in poor countries two million children starve to death every year.

“Cracking down on tax dodging in this year’s Budget would be a win-win – it will help poor people abroad but also those at home.”

Enough Food for Everyone IF is a coalition of 160 organisations and counting which have joined together to campaign for action by the G8 on the issue of global hunger. The last time we worked together at this scale was for Make Poverty History. Now that the G8 group of world leaders are returning to the UK in June, we are demanding they take action on hunger.

 

Poor countries lose around $160 billion every year to tax dodging, money which could be used to support vital services or invested in agriculture to make sure everyone has enough food. That’s more than three times what they receive in aid and is enough money to save the lives of 230 children under 5 every single day – that’s almost 8 primary school classes

The Government has pledged to make tackling tax avoidance by multinationals a priority for the G8 summit. The UK has an opportunity to show real leadership by putting its own house in order in the Budget.

 

Sign up now at www.enoughfoodif.org and make sure the G8 leaders put food on the agenda when they meet in the UK in June.

ROSIE FORTESCUE UNITES WITH LEADING BREAST CANCER CHARITY TO SUPPORT FASHION TARGETS FRIDAY

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Fashion icon Rosie Fortescue, from E4’s Made In Chelsea, is heading up Fashion Targets Friday – a brand new fundraising initiative from Fashion Targets Breast Cancer to help beat breast cancer.

Fashion Targets Friday is taking place on Friday 26th April 2013 and is aimed at British students; encouraging them to raise vital funds for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, the UK’s leading charity fashion campaign in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

In her role as Fashion Targets Friday Ambassador Rosie is urging everyone to style up and sign up to hold a fashionable fundraising event. One in eight UK women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, so every penny raised is crucial in order to help beat the disease.

Rosie Fortescue, Fashion Targets Friday Ambassador, says: “I love fashion so what better way to help all the families affected by breast cancer than holding a stylish fundraising event. Fashion Targets Friday is the perfect way to raise money for this incredible cause – whether you wear your support with a non-uniform day at school or style up your student union with a fashion party – the money you raise will help to stop women dying from breast cancer.”

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is the leading charity fashion campaign raising money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The campaign raises funds through the sale of specially designed products from leading high street retailers including M&S, River Island, Coast, Topshop, Warehouse, Laura Ashley and Debenhams so those who can’t hold or attend a Fashion Targets Friday event can still Wear their Support with a visit to their local high street (from April 22nd).

 

To find out more information about Fashion Targets Friday visit www.fashiontargetsfriday.org.uk

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Host Girls’ Night Out For Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

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Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity, supported Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (20-26 January) in style with the ultimate girl’s night out last night. I went along with Frost writer and fellow actress Paola Berta. I had a great chat with sexpert Tracey Cox and uber glamourous showbiz journalist Zoe Griffin. TOWIE’s Lauren Goodger looked amazing in a studded leather jacket and black leggings.

I had an abnormal smear in 2010 so it is a cause that is very close to my heart. Girls’ Night Out host Zoe Griffin and author, Tracey Cox, shared their experiences of cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities with a celebrity audience to raise awareness of this preventable disease and urge more women to attend their cervical screenings.

Over 60 guests, including Embarrassing Bodies’ Dr Dawn Harper, Made in Chelsea’s Lucy Watson and TOWIE’s Lauren Goodger, joined the party. All guests were treated to goody bags with thanks to Lucky Voice, Vita Coco, Butlers in the Buff, Beverly Hills Formula, Walkers Sunbites, Blue Nun, Lauren’s Way and Ferrero Rocher.

Frost’s editor Catherine Balavage is in the pink, third from left.

Every day nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and three lives are lost to the disease. Cervical screening can help reduce these numbers and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust urges more women to attend as statistics show a worrying downward trend in cervical screening uptake. The cervical screening programme saves 5,000 lives each year in the UK yet 20% of women are not attending their test, and for girls aged between 25 and 29 this figure drops significantly to 1 in 3 – a worrying statistic as cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35.

Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “The focus of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2013 is to raise public awareness by providing information about the causes of the disease and ways to prevent it. With the exception of a dramatic rise in 2009 following Jade Goody’s battle with cervical cancer, since 2002 figures[1] have declined year on year culminating in a 3% drop in screening uptake to 78.6% over the past 10 years. The more we can do to stress the importance of this life saving test the better.

“This year we have also focused on symptoms awareness and early detection as a study[2] we have commissioned shows that women are more likely to seek medical attention with common ailments such as a cough and cold, rather than with symptoms like abnormal bleeding which include bleeding in between periods or after sex.

“Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is thrilled to raise awareness of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week with the help of some friends and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners for their support.”

Paola Berta and Catherine Balavage

Author Tracey Cox added: “I was diagnosed with cervical cancer when I was 30 and had two cone biopsies as a result. It was picked up early, so I was lucky. But if I hadn’t been screened, I wouldn’t have made it to 32. It was an incredibly frightening experience and one most women can avoid if they get regular screenings. I’m delighted to be supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust important work in raising awareness and I’m constantly nagging friends to be vigilant about getting screened on a regular basis. It saved my life and it can save yours too.”

Author and celebrity blogger Zoe Griffin of livelikeavip.com said: “I was diagnosed with cervical abnormalities, but early detection meant I could treat the problem. When I opened the envelope giving me the all clear I felt a huge relief. It is essential that people attend their cervical screening test so that, like me, abnormalities can be treated before they turn into cancer.”

Dr Dawn Harper said: “Cervical cancer is a preventable disease thanks to cervical screenings so it’s absolutely vital that women keep up to date with their invitations. There may be nicer ways to spend your time but the test is painless and should only take around five minutes. I would encourage anyone who is overdue their screening to make an appointment now. Don’t put your health at the bottom of your agenda.”

For more information on Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust visit www.jostrust.co.uk