CHARITIES 2016 @stmarywarsash
Here are the charities we are supporting during 2016 with an outline of their aims and objectives.
* = this charity had not previously been supported.
*Dave Wellman Cancer Trust – January
The Dave Wellman Cancer Trust is one of the Mayor’s chosen charities for 2016. It was founded in 1999, the year that Dave Wellman died of lung cancer. His wife Tina Wellman-Hawke began fundraising with a Ball in memory of him and has been working with researchers at the University of Southampton Cancer Sciences Centre to fund investigations into new treatments. Tina is ambassador for raising funds for the new Cancer Immunology Centre in Southampton due for completion in 2017. The majority of the money raised goes into research locally and much needed equipment. The charity continues to support families and individuals in the fight against cancer.
IDWAL– February
IDWAL (formed in 1978) is the umbrella organisation where links of friendship and partnership are sustained between Anglican Christians in West Africa and the Diocese of Chichester, Guildford & Portsmouth. Since 1998 the Portsmouth links have been mainly with Ghana. The purpose of these partnerships is for mutual encouragement, support and building of relationships in Christian faith and mission. Links are maintained by email, phone, letters, prayer and particularly by personal visits. Many parishes and schools in our Diocese have links, these include: Fareham Deanery linked with Sekondi Takoradi and Wiawaso in Ghana Diocese and Gosport with Accra in Ghana. Money has been raised for community projects e.g. building of wells, toilets and schools. Our Diocese gives ongoing support to schools in Sunyani.
The Rainbow Trust – March (Mothering Sunday)
The Rainbow Trust provides family centred, practical and emotional support for children and young people who are suffering from a life threatening or terminal illness. They work alongside other specialist health and social care professionals and support families from diagnosis, throughout treatment and bereavement. They have 9 teams of family support workers around the country from Southampton to County Durham supporting the whole family. They provide home support; which includes emotional, respite and help at home with cooking meals etc; sibling support; hospital support; bereavement support for the whole family.
Water Aid -April (Easter)
Water Aid is an international organisation. Its mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the World’s poorest countries. It uses practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education and works with local communities, using low cost technologies. They help communities build wells, pumps and taps. In Ethiopia 42 Million people don’t have access to safe water and over 71 Million don’t have adequate sanitation. Many children die before the age of 5. In Uganda slums there is only one toilet for every 4,000 people.
The Brain Tumour Charity – May
The Brain Tumour Charity funds research into brain tumours, from the earliest laboratory studies to clinical trials and helps the lives of people with a brain tumour. Their aims are to increase survival and help to improve quality of life for everyone affected by brain tumours; To understand how and why brain tumours form; Find new treatments and reduce the time taken to diagnose brain tumours in children and adults. They invest in new technologies that will aid in the early and accurate diagnosis and monitoring of brain tumours and are at present researching into 5 Priority Areas – Accelerate, Diagnose, Understand, Catalyse and Enhance.
*Global Care – June
Global care is a British, International, Christian charity and pioneers initiatives supporting the most vulnerable children and young people in Africa, Europe, Asia and Central America. Their aim is to bring effective long-term solutions leading to independence and self-sufficiency. They support these children through education, vocational training, feeding and welfare care. They also provide some residential care. In Nairobi, Kenya is the largest slum in urban Africa. Global care has a primary school that provides schooling for over 400 children all affected by AIDS/HIV. They provide education, 2 meals a day, loving care and medical support. In Bangladesh (where there is regular flooding) Global Care helps local families to develop sustainable incomes with a chicken egg farm, fish lake and a goat scheme.
Mission to Seafarers – July (Sea Sunday)
This voluntary society within the Anglican Church is concerned with the well being of seafarers of all races and creeds in more than 60 countries around the world. Its chaplains, lay staff and volunteers provide a welcome and friendship in over 260 ports and provide help and support to the 1.5 million men and women who can face danger such as piracy, shipwreck and abandonment. It helps seafarers in need, encourages them in their faith, and visits them if they are left in hospital when their ship sails. It provides links with parish clergy to extend support to families and offers help and advice in cases of injustice or hardship. It is entirely funded by voluntary donations.
*Climb – August
Climb is the National Information Centre for Metabolic Diseases and offers free, confidential and impartial support to both families and professionals worldwide. In the UK about 600 babies are born each year with an inherited, metabolic disease and many families face the problem of isolation as GPs and medical professionals may not have encountered the vast majority of these disorders. Climb has information on over 700 different metabolic diseases and offers a free helpline for support and information; a family contacts network, which puts families in touch with each other; and a children and young people’s service. Climb supports all young people through transition, from paediatric to adult care services and continues any support throughout adulthood. New research and newsletters are sent to families and professionals to keep them up to date with ongoing trials and new treatments.
Lockswood Day Care Centre – September
The Lockswood Day Care Centre, Locksheath (now part of Age Concern Hampshire) provides day care to the elderly who may be frail, socially isolated or dependent on carers. It specialises in the care of people who have dementia and provides a friendly stimulating environment and encourages hobbies, games, craftwork and exercises. A midday meal is provided, and transport to and from the Centre when needed. It is staffed by experienced care assistants, supported by a team of volunteers. The Centre offers assisted bathing, chiropody and hairdressing.
Practical Action – October (Harvest)
Practical Action works with communities in the poorest parts of the world to raise their living standards. It develops and promotes the use of tools, machinery and methods that make the best use of local knowledge, skills and resources. They are currently involved in over 100 projects worldwide and work in 4 main areas: Energy – using natural resources such as water, wind and sun; Water and Sanitation -providing access to clean water; Food & Agriculture – increasing incomes and access to food; Disaster Risk Reduction – by reducing vulnerability to disaster. They also offer training, consultancy and educational work.
Sara Afshari CMS Mission Partner – November
Sara Afshari from Iran has been our Mission Partner in Central Asia for 12 years and has been Executive Director of Christian Broadcasting, transmitting TV programmes in Farsi (Persian) in the Iran region. Sara is now studying for a PhD in Media Theology (World Christianity Dept) at Edinburgh University until 2017. She speaks at conferences and helps with a Persian bible study group in Edinburgh. Her plans after her PhD are to do a1year post-doctorate at NEST Lebanon to work on 4 projects to include planning a conference on Christian Media Literacy and to turn her thesis into a book for publication and as a resource for Christian media ministries among Muslims. Sara exchanges letters with our congregation and relies on our support.
Poppy Appeal – November (Remembrance Day)
The first ever Poppy Day was held on 11 November 1921. The Legion’s purpose is to give practical help in time of need to all who served in the Forces, and their widows and dependents. There is an increasing need to help the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces today as well as ex-service personnel and their dependents.
Two Saints – December
Two Saints offers accommodation, support, resettlement and learning services to single people who are homeless, helping them to rebuild their lives and find housing and employment. They offer supported housing accommodation, plus ‘floating support’ to people living in the community. They help people take control of their own lives by encouraging clients to develop their skills and self-confidence. In Fareham & Gosport they offer an 18 room homeless hostel, a ten room community resettlement and life skills centre, a nine room housing and support and substance abuse hostel and accommodation advice centre for young people.
Salvation Army – December (Midnight Mass)
The Salvation Army’s mission is to care for people in need, irrespective of their circumstances. They help homeless people through soup runs, drop-in centres, homeless centres, outreach teams and addiction support, providing food, shelter confidence and hope. They provide family rehabilitation centres, accommodation for woman suffering domestic violence, and a family tracing service; provide help for the elderly through over 60s clubs, residential homes and services for young people including drop-in centres and youth clubs. The Salvation Army runs detoxification and rehabilitation centres, helps fight against human trafficking and supports victims of modern slavery.