Tag Archives: donate

Shoe Aid – Because Walking Barefoot Should Be A Choice…

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Capture‘We’re shoe people….that’s what we do.

Can you imagine a life where you and your family cannot afford a simple pair of shoes? For 300 million children worldwide, this is a reality. They do not have a choice to be barefoot because their families are too impoverished to afford an essential pair of shoes. We’re working to change that, and you can help’.

Shoe Aid UK

 

In 2004, Lee Todd, who had created a career in the shoe business for himself watched on television a video of a single shoe washing ashore after the calamitous 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. It was an image he never forgot and it moved him to develop the Shoe Aid charity in 2010.

With Lee’s leadership and Shoe Aid’s core team, Shoe Aid has collected tens of thousands of shoes for people in need. In partnership with The National Police Aid Convoy the shoes collected have benefited and helped improve the lives of people in the UK, Malawi, Gambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Russia, Albania, Pakistan, Ghana and Rwanda.

Strategically placed shoe bins are used to collect used and new shoes. These can be found in participating schools, offices, factories and religious and retail establishments. Shoe Aid is working to establish itself as a leading global charity that will continue to provide needed shoes to people in the UK, developing nations, disaster zones and refugee camps. In addition, Shoe Aid aims to help develop micro-businesses in developing countries where they will teach people how to create commerce on gently worn shoes. Any newly donated shoes will be proudly allocated as designated by Shoe Aid.

Shoe Aid is also doing long-term planning to help those in poverty in the UK with a vision of establishing charity shops throughout the UK for people in need of re-purposed shoes at a nominal price.

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Why Shoe Aid?

As a UK charity, Shoe Aid are passionate about what they do. Every day, they are seeking ways to help improve the lives of children around the world by working with global partners to collect donated shoes. The shoes that are collected are sent to parts of Africa and Eastern Europe. The pieces are then repurposed and provided to impoverished families.

‘We need you to join us. We have a lot of work to do and we need businesses, companies, charities, schools and individuals to add their voices and efforts to our movement. Together, we can make a difference, not only in Eastern Europe and Africa, but also right here in the UK. Help support our efforts and make a difference in a child’s life today’.

12 New Terrace
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5PU

Phone: 07947 686333

E-mail
lee@shoeaid.com

About Shoe Aid…

Shoe Aid is a charity (in the process of registration) established to raise awareness and help the 300 million children worldwide who do not have the ability to obtain a pair of shoes, which are necessary for hygienic and health reasons, for work and school, due to the devastating ills of poverty. Shoe Aid believes that walking barefoot should be a choice, not a hardship.

www.shoeaid.com

@ShoeAidUK

Facebook: ShoeAidNottingham

 

 

From a Mother to Another: 66,000 items of baby clothing saved from landfill & sent to those in need

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A small boy in the refugee camp in the Bekka Valley.

A small boy in the refugee camp in the Bekka Valley.

66,000 shoes, boots & items of baby clothing saved from landfill & sent to those in need.

From a Mother to Another, the initiative from JoJo Maman Bébé, starts collecting again on 1st Feb 2016. The aim; to reduce the shocking levels of clothing waste that end up in a landfill whilst helping those in need in the UK with distribution via food banks plus helping thousands of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon.

JoJo will be collecting good quality outgrown or unwanted baby and children’s clothes in, sizes 0-6 years, at their 72 stores across the UK and Ireland. Customers are requested to make up complete outfits to give something worthwhile this mother’s day.

Nearly a third of the UK’s clothing ends up in landfill, equating to 350,000 tonnes a year. By extending the life of clothes by just three months of active use, carbon and water waste could be reduced by up to 5-10% a year. Sending good quality, little worn hand-me-downs to those in need could mean they are worn by many more children.

From a Mother to Another

The emergency clothing packs will be distributed by some of the Trussell Trust’s 420 Foodbanks across the UK and by a number of partner charities on the ground in Lebanon. Helen Frank’s from Trussell Trust explains why she jumped at the chance to get involved;  “I am delighted Trussell Trust Foodbanks will be participating in the From A Mother To Another campaign with JoJo, it is a natural fit to The Trussell Trust’s ‘More Than Food’ approach, which offers additional services to help alleviate poverty in the UK. Over a third of three day emergency food supplies provided by Trussell Trust foodbanks go to children in crisis. From a Mother to Another is a perfect way for one mum to bring a little light and a lot of comfort to another.”

Laura Tenison, founder & CEO of JoJo, visited refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley on the Lebanese Syrian border late last year. As a result JoJo launched an urgent appeal to collect winter shoes and boots for the children living in tents, now under snow. Customers reacted with empathy and the thousands collected are currently being distributed on the ground to refugees with so little.  Laura explained what she found when visiting the camps; “The situation is dire and the millions of women and children living in makeshift tents are in urgent need of emergency humanitarian aid to help until it is safe to travel home – just a few miles across the border. They left Syria with whatever they could carry. Their children have outgrown their clothes long ago and are often in rags. The gift of a FAMTA pack brings tears of gratitude. Children are dying from the cold, we just had to help.”

JoJo Maman Bébé will cover the extensive costs of checking, sorting, shipping, customs clearance and managing the logistics of delivering the parcels to the partner charities in Lebanon and to the Trussell Trust’s Foodbanks across the UK.

 

 

Get Behind Kyran in Hattie’s Haka: Support Leukaemia CARE & One-year-old Hattie Seymour

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The family of one-year-old Hattie Seymour, who has just been diagnosed with acute lymphomblastic leukaemia (ALL) are urging members of the public to join rugby star Kyran Bracken and take part in ‘Hattie’s Haka’ as she undergoes chemotherapy to fight the disease.

Get behind Kyran in Hattie’s Haka support Leukaemia CARE & One-year-old Hattie Seymour

 

One-year-old Hattie Seymour from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, was diagnosed with acute lymphomblastic leukaemia (ALL), on 21st November turning her family’s world upside down.

 

Brave Hattie started treatment this week, in an effort to rid her body of the leukaemia cells in her blood. She will find out on Tuesday 2nd December if the chemotherapy has been a success or whether she will need a stem cell transplant to hopefully cure her.

 

In a bid to show solidarity, her family has launched Hattie’s Haka, an appeal encouraging people to don their war paint and either video or photograph themselves doing the famous war dance made famous by the New Zealand All Blacks as well as make a small donation to Leukaemia CARE, a national blood cancer support charity. Since the appeal started on Monday (24th November), donations on Hattie’s Just Giving page have already exceeded £6,000.

 

After being contacted by Hattie’s grandfather, international rugby star, Kyran Bracken, has backed the appeal by photographing himself doing the Haka to help raise awareness of leukaemia and support Hattie and her family during a difficult and emotional time. The family are calling for the rest of the rugby community, as well as the general public, to get involved.

 

Katie Seymour, Hattie’s mother, said: “Despite this being an incredibly emotional and distressing time for us, we are overwhelmed by the huge amount of support we have had from not only friends and family, but total strangers, too. We never thought it would take off like this, but we are so grateful for everyone’s well wishes and we’re trying to remain positive and upbeat for Hattie.

 

“We have decided to support Leukaemia CARE because they not only help the patients, but the families affected by leukaemia too, so we wanted to give something back and help them continue their hard work.”

 

Kevin Hateley, Fundraising Manager at Leukaemia CARE, said: “A diagnosis of a blood cancer can be devastating for anyone, but when a child is diagnosed, it can be a terribly traumatic time for so many people. We are encouraging people to join in with Hattie’s Haka so we can continue to provide support to families just like Hattie’s’”

 

ALL is an acute form of leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells), characterised by the overproduction of cancerous, immature white blood cells—known as lymphoblasts or blast cells.

 

One-third of all childhood cancers are leukaemia, with approximately 400 new cases in the UK each year. Approximately three out of four of these cases are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). ALL can affect children of any age, but is more common in children aged one to four.

 

If you’d like to donate to show your support for Hattie, visit https://www.justgiving.com/hattieshaka and upload your Haka photo or video to www.facebook.com/HattiesHeroes

 

 

Kate Nash & Leona Lewis Donate Bunny Selfies to #BeCrueltyFree Campaign

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Stars’ bunnies, Fluffy and Melrose, get active for #InternationalRabbitDay

cute bunny rabbit kate nash leoni lewis

Award-winning British singer-songwriters Kate Nash and Leona Lewis have joined with bunny lovers from all over the world to say, ‘Bunnies are for cuddling, not cosmetics testing” on International Rabbit Day (Sept 27). The stars donated bunny selfies in support of Humane Society International’s #BeCrueltyFreecampaign for a worldwide end to cosmetics testing on rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and other animals.

Kate tweeted a photo of herself with Fluffy: “My bunny Fluffy is my best friend. I love her so much, and I’d never let anyone hurt her. It’s so sad to think that there are thousands of rabbits just as lovely as Fluffy, trembling in laboratories as chemicals are dripped in their eyes to test cosmetics. Bunnies are for cuddling, not cruel cosmetics testing. That’s why Fluffy and I support HSI’s #BeCrueltyFree campaign. Let’s end testing cosmetics on animals once and for all!”

Leona tweeted a selfie of herself and Melrose sharing a kiss: “I want bunnies to #BeCrueltyFree with @HSIGlobal let’s end cosmetics cruelty!” The Glassheart singer also recently posted an article on her Lee-Loy Blog about her desire to see a global end to cosmetics animal testing.

Leona’s blog reads: “Ending animal testing is also about getting laws changed, Bills introduced, advancing cutting-edge science, lobbying politicians and grabbing some serious face time in the beauty brand board room to get things changed. And for that you need kick-ass campaigners who know what they’re talking about. Our favourite bunny-hugging beauty crusaders are the #BeCrueltyFree campaign from Humane Society International.”

Rabbits are commonly used to test cosmetics alongside smaller animals such as mice. In skin and eye irritation tests first developed in the 1940s, rabbits are held in full body restraints so that chemicals can be dripped in their eyes or spread on their shaved skin. These tests are notoriously unreliable as well as cruel.

The European Union, Norway, Israel and India have all banned animal testing for cosmetics, and bans are being considered in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the United States. The #BeCrueltyFree campaign has been a driving force behind much of this global progress.

Hundreds of cruelty-free companies around the world such as LUSH, Lippy Girl and Barry M, produce safe products without animal testing. They do so by using existing ingredients combined with available state-of-the-art non-animal tests.

Say NO to cosmetics cruelty – sign the #BeCrueltyFree pledge.

 

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Collars and Coats Gala Ball: David Gandy & Amanda Holden Shine

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Battersea Dogs Take Centre Stage at Star-Studded Charity Gala Event

 

A host of celebrities from stage, screen, sport, fiction and fashion sashayed down the red carpet for the fifth annual Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Collars & Coats Gala Ball 2013 on Thursday, 7th November at Battersea Evolution in London, as this year’s event went all “Hollywoof” with its unique homage to the golden age of cinema.

David Gandy Paul O'Grady & Amanda

The star-studded charity bash welcomed renowned personalities through its famous doors, with Battersea Ambassador and international supermodel David Gandy, popular author Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE, football legend Gary Lineker with his wife Danielle and dance aficionados Craig Revel Horwood and Arlene Philips, all walking the red carpet in support of London’s premier charity event in support of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s work to rescue and rehome abandoned dogs and cats. Also in attendance was American music icon Jocelyn Brown. Adding the cute factor was doggy star Pudsey, who was accompanied by his owner Ashleigh Butler.

 

Guests on the red carpet were welcomed by the legendary and unique Battersea dog ‘guard of honour’, as around 50 of the charity’s dogs in need of new homes lined the way.

 

The world-famous event was hosted by Battersea Ambassadors and TV favourites Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady MBE and was presided over by royalty His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO and Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent.

 

London’s foremost social gathering saw guests treated to an exclusive champagne cocktail reception and sumptuous three-course banquet, as their senses were dazzled by an evening of eclectic entertainment, emotive speeches and a luxurious, one-of-its-kind Auction of Dreams. Guests were also charmed by the posters on display featuring Battersea dogs and staff mimicking legendary movie star mutts, promoting the Hollywoof themed gala ball. Lady & The Tramp and Toto from the Wizard of Oz are some of Hollywood’s most recognisable doggie icons, but this time the stars of the show were some of Battersea’s four-legged friends, who loved ‘pawsing’ for pictures with Battersea staff in place of their better-known canine comrades. The posters accompany new survey results, which show the UK’s favourite dog movie is Disney’s Lady & The Tramp, followed by Marley & Me and the Wizard of Oz.

 

In tribute to the legends of the silver screen there was a foot-tapping set from London show-stoppers The Rat Pack. Guests were transported back to the vintage era of the movies as tribute act The Rat Pack took to the stage to recreate the sounds of legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr. Complete with an impressive 18 piece big band and glamorous showgirls, the audience were treated to a truly unforgettable experience by one of Britain’s longest running and most successful tributes to the cool cats of Hollywood. Also taking to the stage for a rousing set was American soul diva Jocelyn Brown. Adding the classical quotient was internationally acclaimed operatic rock quartet, Passionata, who mesmerised with their repertoire of four-part harmonies.

 

Other highlights included an exclusive auction with an array of luxury, bespoke gifts donated by a variety of UK and international brands as well as the Home’s supporters. Craig Revel Horward took to the stage to encourage guests to show their generosity for the “heads and tails” fundraising drive.

 

Among the sensational prizes was an amazing  money can’t buy opportunity to go for a walk in the park with a top Hollywood movie star, Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, swoon at an international supermodel David Gandy or stroll with a chart-topping singer, Mollie King. Bidders can show their support for Battersea and secure a dog walking date with nine famous dog lovers at www.collarsandcoats.org.uk/ebay. The amazing online auction, the first of its kind in the UK, runs until midnight on Friday 8 November.

 

Other auction treats included an all-expenses paid, once in a life time opportunity to attend the red carpet premiere of the ‘Godfather of Hollywood’ Al Pacino’s next film in New York, Wilde Salome, including an exclusive meet and greet with Al Pacino himself. There will also be an experience day at Gaydon for six people, where James Bond’s favourite car Aston Martin is manufactured. The lucky prize bidders will be immersed in a tour of the factory, learn more about the heritage of the brand, dine in the design studio whilst viewing models in their pre-production phase and enjoy a spin in an Aston Martin around the Warwickshire countryside, enjoying the freedom of the road and the spirit of the machine.

 

It costs over £18m to run Battersea each year, and with no government funding, the Collars & Coats Gala Ball is all about helping increase awareness of the important work the charity does each and every day of the year to offer a second chance in life to thousands of animals. Last year nearly 9,000 dogs and cats needed Battersea’s care and attention to help find them the best possible new homes.

 

For further information on the event, please visit http://www.collarsandcoats.org.uk

For further information on Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and to pledge donations, please visit www.battersea.org.uk


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/

 

The Storm of Oklahoma by Tyler Shields

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Tyler Shields Drives From LA to Oklahoma to Shoot the Storm for the Red Cross
Tyler Shields said:

“Took a drive from Los Angeles to Moore Oklahoma and met some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Their spirit was so up lifting it really makes you realize the things you own do not own you, life is about living not about possessions I did not meet one person who complained only people happy to be alive. I met this women who told me the story of how her father build a storm shelter for her 30 years ago she never liked it and had never used it until this Tornado came she gathered her whole family into the small shelter and it saved all of their lives it was amazing to hear her tell the story about how she hated this thing and now the small slab of concrete will for ever be remembered at the savior of the family!

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I will be auctioning these photos and all the proceeds will be going to the families of Moore Oklahoma if you want to purchase a photo please email info@tylershields.com”

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National campaign to suit-up the homeless unemployed receives over 1000 donations

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National campaign to suit-up the homeless unemployed receives over 1000 donations

With nearly 80% of homeless people wanting to get a job and support themselves, this spring tailoring company A Suit That Fits teamed up with three homelessness charities to help their members get back into work.

In a climate with 2.63 million people unemployed in the UK, the pressure is on to impress at interview and studies have shown that first impressions, like what you wear, affect your fundamental judgement of a person.

For seven weeks, suits were donated to the Suit for Success campaign and donators were rewarded with a £50 tailoring voucher. Donated suits were gifted to homelessness charities Amber, Broadway and Emmaus, who all work with their members to help them support themselves.

Each charity offers work and learning outreach programs to their members to equip them with the skills and confidence they need to get a job and be able to fully support themselves. But they regularly find their members have nothing to wear to their interview, which affects their confidence and impacts that all-important ‘first impression’. By providing them with a smart suit we are making the process just a little bit easier.

F1 analyst and Amber supporter Eddie Jordan and television presenter Rick Edwards backed the campaign.

Paul Wilson is a trustee at Broadway – he is 57 and came to Broadway in 2008; Paul benefited from Eddie Jordan’s suit and is currently looking for work

In 2003, Paul was married with two children, and living in London, where he owned his own construction business with a childhood friend. When he caught his wife having an affair with his business partner, not only did his marriage breakdown, but it also signaled the end of his business. When he approached the council for help, he was informed that he was not a priority for housing, and he ended up sleeping on the streets. Due to the trauma of this, Paul started drinking heavily as a coping mechanism. After a long process of rehab, social services put Paul in touch with Broadway. Paul is now an incredibly active member of not just Broadway, but homelessness services throughout London. He is now living completely independently, and looking for a job.

A Suit That Fits’s co-founder, Warren Bennett says of the Suit for Success campaign, ‘wearing a suit has a massive effect on confidence – especially when looking for work. If we can help individuals to feel more confident when going to interviews, and therefore increase their chances of getting a job – then the campaign will have been a resounding success.’