donations

Charity of the Month…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

I know all is not well in the world and many of us are struggling. I only ask that if you are able, you consider making a contribution to any of the following appeals.

Another month over and still no improvement for the people of Gaza. The conditions remain horrific and Palestinians still desperately need our help. I have been supporting Haitham & Khalil and would dearly like you to give whatever you can. Haitham was studying to be nurse before this horror began. He is raising money to support his whole family. Khalil is a footballer who has dreamed of being a professional goalkeeper all his life. He and his family are struggling to access basic necessities like clean water. Please consider helping these young men if you are able.

My amazing sister did the Kilt Walk last week. Last year she participated 7mths pregnant, this year she had the baba strapped to her chest. She walked as part of a team raising money for Spina Bifida Scotland. Each year Spina Bifida Scotland must raise over £1 million to fund support services for children, young people and adults with the life long condition. With little statutory funding they rely almost entirely on donations. Please consider making a donation.

The smallest man who ever lived…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

I’m feeling like I shouldn’t have titled my last post Crazy Little World since it just got a whole lot crazier. The US election results hit me hard. I really struggle to reconcile the fact that so many people actively support that dangerous, hateful man.

I feel scared for the world. I am terrified for the many real people who will be hurt by another Trump presidency. The trend of politics sliding to right horrifies me. I don’t understand why people are so easily conned into hating groups who have done them no harm.

I despair at the inadequacy of our own government. Keir Starmer’s refusal to take action to protect Palestinians, but eagerness to congratulate Trump is cowardly. Under his leadership Labour have become unrecognisable. Their failure to protect the vulnerable in our society is unforgivable. I fear that inaction will lead to a loss at the next general election and throw us back under Tory rule. So far Labour have not done much to offer me hope.

It’s a frightening landscape that I want to improve. The scale of our situation feels overwhelming. Just telling people to vote feels far from sufficient. The truth is I don’t have the answers, I don’t know who does. The best I can do is stay engaged; I will continue to vote at every level, I will protest, sign petitions, get my hands dirty where possible. Right now I feel like supporting organisations who can help those in jeopardy is paramount.

Reproductive rights are under threat. People are dying because they cannot access the medical care they require during pregnancy. Extremist groups based in the US are trying to make inroads into other countries. If you want to keep access to abortion legal/decriminalise it and help people get pregnant people the care they need you can support one of these organisations.

The National Network of Abortion Funds

BPAS

Abortion Rights Scotland

The situation in Palestine continues to grow worse. Israeli aggression remains unrestrained. Cities have been destroyed. People are fighting warfare, starvation & disease to stay alive. A genocide is taking place, if you can please support one of these fundraisers.

Get Haitham’s family to safety.

Hands for Humanity

Medical Aid for Palestine

Although the UK is a relatively rich country, people will suffer this winter. Shelter, food and heat will be a scarcity for many. Please consider giving your support to one of these organisations.

Shelter Scotland

Trussel Trust

Refuweegee

October skies…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

Oh, I have so much to say. Labour’s cowardly first 100 days have rendered me overwhelmed; fat phobic announcements, abandoning people they’re supposed to fight for, refusal to stand up to Isreal et al. I am working on pieces expressing how I feel about all of that. In the meantime, I am giving you a little round up of my more light hearted goings on. I just didn’t anyone to think I was ignoring the ongoing horrors.

Thursday night dinners with my Brother & his boys are always fun. I love catching up on what my nephews have been getting up to. Last week I had these adorable decorate yourself Halloween biscuits for them and they told me about their spooky costume plans. For this little outing I wore the dress that my sister got me for my birthday. It’s the perfect autumn dress. I love the soft waffle fabric & the long fluted sleeves. I especially enjoy how comfy it is whilst also making me va va voom.

Dress – ASOS
Cookies – Graceful Favours

Last weekend I finally got out to see my amazing friend Lisa. We had an in depth catch up and her 12 yr old son declared me still cool. I consider this a huge win. A weekend on the east coast was lovely. Good friends, good food and even the train didn’t stress me out too much.

Getting back to the Halloween theme, I did some spooky crafts with more niblings this week. It’s school holidays up here and the weather hasn’t been playing ball. They all loved the pumpkin headbands & my big niece also made a beautiful wreath for her bedroom door. I love doing things like this with the wee ones. Watching their creativity and excitement always makes me smile.

Finally, I rounded up the October week with a big adventure. We set off at the crack of dawn yesterday to drive up to Landmark Adventure Park. It’s a forest adventure park near Aviemore and it’s absolutely with the trip. My sis & her big boy tackled all the climbing, water slides & trampolining in the sky. Myself & the tiny boy watched from one of many comfortable benches. Don’t worry though, there were activities I could manage including a labyrinth & meeting my favourite dinosaur. There is a fair bit of walking involved, but plentiful places to sit and rest along the way. We stayed right up until closing time and arrived home exhausted last night!

I recognise how privileged I am to be able to spend a week having fun with my friends and family. All of my loved ones are safe, my niblings are able to enjoy their childhoods free from peril. The people of Gaza are denied that. I think it is incumbent upon us to remember how lucky we are and do whatever we can to help. If you are able please make a donation to help Haitham and his family reach safety.

Humanitarian Crisis

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

January’s charity contribution was sadly a very obvious choice. The assault on the Palestinian people has continued despite even the intervention of the ICJ. The resulting humanitarian crisis is overwhelming.

Health care & residential infrastructure have been decimated. Most of the population are starving. Malnourished mothers are giving birth to babies who can survive only a few days. The scale of suffering is hard to comprehend. If you can please consider donating to one of these amazing organisations.

Unicef provide essential aid to combat disease, malnutrition & injury. They are focused on caring for the millions of children impacted in Gaza.

Medical Aid Palestine works for the health & dignity of Palestinians living under occupation. They desperately need help in providing urgent medical care and developing local capacity to ensure long term medical services.

Hakini is working to set up an emergency hotline for people in psychological distress. They provide specialised training for volunteers to support civilians & aid workers.

Give a little more…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

Christmas is a time for giving and this year there is so much need. It’s really difficult to decide where to put my money because we’re all surrounded by deep suffering. My donations can sometimes feel inadequate, but if we all give a little it can become a lot.

I started close to home with Crookston Community Group. They operate a food bank for local people and of course are needed more than ever. I came across their Donate a Pound campaign on social media and of course I wanted to help. I am sure your local Foodbank is in need of donations too, but if you want you could also donate to Crookston. All those £’s add up.

The Willows Cat Hotel is part of Willow Animal Sanctuary. The specialise in taking cats who are not house trained or have issues that means no other facility will take them. They offer these cats a safe warm place to live, food and proper veterinary care. Whilst still allowing them roam the grounds & be independent. I love that there is a place for cats that everyone else has given up on. You can Sponsor a cat, make a donation to the cat hotel or to the sanctuary’s work.

Sleep Pod provide emergency tents for homeless people in extreme weather. We all know how cold it gets out there in the winter. It is appalling that so many people are without safe homes, but since that is the situation we find ourselves in, these tents save lives. You can make a donation here to help sleep pod provide them.

I understand that finances are stretched. Please look after yourself first. If you afford to make a donation, that would be wonderful.

Charity of the Month

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

I am popping in from my rest break to do February’s charity of the month. Supporting disaster relief after the earthquakes in Turkey/Syria is an obvious choice. The news & images in the aftermath of the tragedy have been utterly heartbreaking.

I didn’t know where to donate, but after reading positive things about DEC my mind was made up. 20,000 people have already lost their lives and a further 17 million remain in the affected areas. They are in urgent need of food, shelter and medical aid. In the midst of winter conditions will only become more critical. If you can, please consider making a donation.

Give Your Best…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

Christmas is a time for giving. However, given the current economic state it’s understandable that more people than ever are unable to be as charitable as they’d like. Thus, I thought I’d offer some easy (& free) ways to help

Give Your Best is a tech for good enterprise that allows people to donate quality clothes. Clothes are shown on their website and can be shopped by those in need. The organisation supports people in the UK who are seeking asylum, refuge, have been victims of trafficking, destitute with no recourse to public funds or have precarious immigration status. The platform accepts donation of clothes, shoes & accessories and allows people to pick the items they want at no charge. It’s a simple system that engenders choice. If you have items that would be of use to someone please sign up in the website.

Smalls for All accepts donations of new pants and new or gently used underwear. They work with various organisations who disturb the items throughout the UK & Africa. Pants can be picked up so cheaply & if you’re anything like me you will have bras that you wore once and found it didn’t fit properly or didn’t give you the shape you wanted. Small for All facilitates getting those garments to people who need them.

Many charities can raise funds by recycling used stamps. All you have to do is cut them from the envelopes they arrive in and send to any of the following organisations.

RNIB

Amnesty

Oxfam

Retired Greyhound Trust

Parkinson’s UK

The Lullaby Trust

Children’s Heart Federation

Finally is you are able giving blood is an amazing way to help others. As a recipient I am eternally grateful to the people who donated the blood I needed. Uk blood stocks have been alarmingly low this year. Although they are now recovering, blood donors are always needed. You can find out if your are eligible & how to donate here.

The Home Front…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

I joined my local Facebook group during the refuse strikes because I never knew what I supposed to be doing with my bins. I had mostly forgotten about it until recently when I noticed that folk were using it to help those in need in our community. I was so impressed with how tirelessly some people work to make sure no one goes without essentials.

I hadn’t considered this way of helping out before, but it really is incredibly straightforward. You can donate clothes & items that you don’t use. Little gifts, toiletries etc that will make a huge different to families who are struggling this winter. I don’t necessarily believe in the ‘charity begins at home’ mantra, but I do hate to think of neighbours being in dire straits. We all know that this year it’s harder than ever to make ends meet, it’s good to know that we can take simple steps to help.

Please check out local community, facebook groups etc if you are having a clear out or can afford to pick up a few extras this Xmas season. There are undoubtedly families close by who’s Christmas would be greatly improved by these little acts of kindness.

Kid’s Out provide Xmas gifts for children in refuge. You can select & pay for a gift online.

Alternatively, you can’t make online donations to a the following groups.

The Trussel Trust is the UK’s largest foodbank group. You can donate online to support their work of keeping people fed this winter.

Refuge have an option to buy a Xmas dinner parcel for a family of various sizes. You can help provide a happier festive period for families feeling domestic violence.

Charity of the Month…

~ somethinginthewayshemoves

The floods in Pakistan have been devastating. The world seems to paying much less attention than we should. This is catastrophe of our making. The people of Pakistan are paying the price for climate changing behaviours that they haven’t engaged in at anywhere near the rate we (in the west) have. It is absolutely our responsibility to help them recover.

A third of Pakistan is now under water. Millions of people have lost everything. If you can please donate to one of the many organisations providing aid.

UNICEF are working to provide food, shelter and healthcare of children. They are also providing families with hygiene kits to reduce disease outbreaks and setting up temporary education centres.

Alkhidmat are providing regular meals, clean water and medical assistance in flood impacted areas.

IRC have already reached 20,000 with critical food, water and medical supplies. They a desperately need donations to continue this work.