Winston's Wish launch new website!

Winston’s Wish, the UK’s leading charity for bereaved children, is delighted to announce the launch of its new website which retains the original URL and is now live: www.winstonswish.org.uk.  

The informative new website has a fresh new look with user friendly navigation. Visitors to the site can easily access the useful guidance and support provided for parents and carers supporting bereaved children along with information for schools and professionals. Impactful images and videos have been added to tell the story of the life changing work performed by Winston’s Wish.

The aim of the new Winston’s Wish website is to provide a more logical journey for the user. Visitors to the site can now access all of the information they need with just a few clicks and can easily view the full range of services that Winston’s Wish offers to grieving families.

The new Winston’s Wish website has a variety of engaging functions enabling users to interact directly with the charity.  Visitors to the site can directly acquire award winning publications and useful resources which address issues arising from supporting bereaved children and young people.  The publications offer clear guidance, advice and practical suggestions to parents, carers and professionals. Supporters of Winston’s Wish can register for fundraising events, volunteer to provide vital help to the charity and make donations.

Plans to redesign the ‘Young People’ interactive section of the site are in progress with a launch date anticipated in autumn 2014.

The team at Winston’s Wish have embraced current online channels and have incorporated Facebook and twitter into the website design with real time social media feeds. There is also an up-to-the minute media centre designed for journalists and media professionals, where a host of useful resources including media contact details, brand guidelines, press releases and more can be accessed.

Catherine Ind, Chief Executive of Winston’s Wish commented:  “We are delighted to launch a new and much improved website that will provide an effective and cohesive aid to directly support children and their families before, during and after bereavement.  We encourage new and existing users to visit the new site and learn more about the services offered by Winston’s Wish.”

“Winston’s Wish is looking to deliver a cutting edge experience in digital communications through the launch of the new website. This will enhance the exceptional service offered year-round by the charity.” Catherine continued.

The Winston’s Wish Helpline, staffed by qualified clinical practitioners, provides guidance and information for anyone supporting a bereaved child - 08452 03 04 05, 9am-5pm Monday – Friday and 7pm-9.30pm on Wednesday.

Local legs needed for Brighton Marathon

LOCAL legs are needed for the Brighton Marathon 2014 to help Meningitis UK/Meningitis Trust stamp out the deadly disease.

The national charity is urging people to take on Britain’s no. 2 marathon (after London) on Sunday, April 6.

Meningitis UK/Trust has 15 guaranteed places available for the event, which will see more than 18,000 participants, and independent runners can choose to lace up for the charity.

Full support will be given before and after the epic 26.2-mile challenge and runners receive a free running vest or T-shirt and information pack on how to prepare.

Meningitis UK/Trust South and South East community fundraiser Kelly Jobanputra said: “We hope locals will lace up for this fledgling challenge for us, so we can fight the dreaded disease on all fronts.

“Every penny our runners raise will help fund cutting-edge research to eradicate meningitis, support those touched by the disease and raise lifesaving awareness.”

The merged charity needs to raise over £10,000 every day to fund its life-saving and life-changing services.

Tragically, meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK every year and kill more children under five than any other infectious disease.

Meningitis can strike with incredible speed and the symptoms are notoriously difficult to detect, often being confused with flu.

To sign up or for more information, call Kelly Jobanputra on 0845 120 4766 or email kellyj@meningitis-trust.org.

Brake seeks adventurous fundraisers to trek in aid of road crash victims

Brake, the road safety charity, is seeking energetic and adventurous fundraisers to sign up now to hold a fundraising trek in aid of its work campaigning for safer roads and supporting road crash victims.By getting sponsored to trek, individuals and groups - from seasoned hikers to teams of colleagues or people seeking a challenge - can help Brake continue its work to bring about safer streets for people on foot and bike and to support people who suffer the devastation of a bereavement or injury on roads.

Brake is appealing to walkers everywhere to trek for Brake this year, in support of the charity's recently launched campaign to make roads safer for walking and cycling through slower traffic speeds in communities and better pavements, paths and crossings. Read about the GO 20 campaign.

On 28 September Brake supporters will be climbing Mount Snowdon, and Brake is calling on more people to sign up now and join the adventure.This challenge, during which participants will reach the highest peak in Wales, is a great opportunity to get active and fundraise for Brake. Visit www.brake.org.uk/get-moving/trek-for-brake.htm to find out more about the trek, and contact Lisa via the details below to register. (See attached flyer for details)
 
You can also sign up for a trekathon, a marshalled 26-mile trek in the UK or overseas, and find more details about scheduled trekathons at www.discoveradventure.co.uk. 

In 2012, 62 people trekked for Brake, raising a fantastic £20,997 for the charity, including Lisa Henney from Oxford (see below and photo attached - Lisa, centre, is pictured fundraising for Brake).
Brake provides all fundraisers with a pack containing a t-shirt, sponsorship envelopes, hints and tips on raising funds, and information on Brake's work.

To trek for Brake, complete our form or contact Lisa Kendall on fundraise@brake.org.uk or 01484 683294. Find out about other fundraisers, plus hints and tips at www.brake.org.uk/fundraise.

Lisa Henney from Oxford last year trekked 26 miles between Winchester and Salisbury cathedrals with her fiancé Tim and friend Chloe, raising over £2,500 in memory of her 18 year-old sister Jan,who was tragically killed in a road crash in January 2012. 

Lisa Henney says: "After we lost Jan I felt helpless, knowing there was nothing I could do to change what had happened. My friend Chloe told me about Brake and the work that they do to support families who have been bereaved and we decided to do something positive that might make a difference and help save lives. That's when we decided to do the trek. It was one of the most physically challenging things I've ever done but it was one of my proudest moments and I feel like I made Janproud too. I'd definitely recommend doing a trek as a great way to challenge yourself and do something positive for others."

Lisa Kendall, community fundraising manager at Brake, says:"Trekking for Brake is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors in aid of a charity that carries out vital work: supporting families going through unimaginable suffering, and defending everyone's right to walk safely. By following in the footsteps of people like Lisa, Tim and Chloe you can help us campaign for safer roads and support families devastated by road crashes. If you're planning a hiking trip this year, you're a walking club member, or you just love a stroll with friends and family, consider combining your love of walking with fundraising for a great cause. You'll be helping us continue campaigning for everyone to be able to walk without being endangered."

The RSPCA have reported an alarming increase in animals being abandoned across England and Wales

In the last year, the RSPCA were called out to rescue more than 37,000 abandoned animals and received a call asking for help every 30 seconds.

Every year the charity sees a sharp rise in abandonments at the height of summer. Evidence from the RSPCA and other animal charities suggests some people chose to get rid of their pets rather than pay for them to be looked after while they are on holiday.

In other cases, money may be spent on holidays and other summer ‘treats’ rather than seeking vet attention for ill or newborn animals, so they are simply discarded.

“The shocking fact is that even in a nation of animal lovers, there are thousands of people out there who don’t care about their pets at all. In fact, some literally treat them like rubbish,” said RSPCA deputy chief inspector Ben Strangwood.

The animal welfare charity has released a list of the most unusual places that animals have been abandoned since May [2013]. Including:

• A dog dumped in a duffel bag 
• Chinchillas found in a cage in a cemetery 
• Very young rabbits discovered in a plant pot inside a shopping bag 
• A mother cat and kittens dumped in a wheelie bin 
• A terrapin left in a bucket in a children’s playground
• A man who walked into a Tesco and asked a woman to hold his cat while he called the RSPCA - and then never returned.

The list is a startling reminder that some really do view animals as commodities that can be discarded without a moments’ thought.

“It’s bad enough when we find a box of kittens wrapped in blankets on our doorstep with a note,” added DCI Strangwood, “but now people are deliberately dumping their animals in out of the way places - like bins, skips or on waste ground - and leaving them to die.” 

The public is urged to be vigilant, and to alert the RSPCA if they notice boxes, bins or bags that could contain abandoned animals. Things to look out for include movement and noises.     

To help the RSPCA continue its vital work rescuing rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned animals across England and Wales, Text RUBBISH to 70800 to give £5 today.

Be a Safety Super Hero! Support local children’s charity events during Child Safety Week 24-30 June

Working with communities to keep children safe

Be a Safety Super Hero! Support local children’s charity events during Child Safety Week 24-30 June

Brighton-based charity Safety Net, who work with local communities to keep children safe, is set to run a programme of activities across the city during Child Safety Week (24^th-30th June). The theme of Child Safety Week this year is Be a Safety Hero.

Kids Competition to win an iPod Shuffle

Safety Net have launched a competition inviting children in Brighton and Hove to draw a picture of their own Safety Hero. This could be anyone they feel keeps them safe, e.g. someone who works at the school, a lollipop lady, a parent, a doctor or a nurse etc. Competition Entry Forms can be downloaded from the website.

Three lucky winners will win an engraved iPod shuffle and, along with nine runners up, have their images used for Safety Net’s Calendar in 2014.

Deadline for entry is 7th July,  all details can be found on the website www.safety-net.org.uk.

Super Hero Dress Up Day for Businesses - 27th June

Safety Net are urging companies to get involved by hosting a sponsored Super Hero Dress Up Day amongst their staff.

The day will help raise vital funds to support Safety Net’s work in the local community, helping keep more children safe. A minimum donation of £1 per person is suggested for staff to dress up. Companies who would like to get involved can find all the relevant details here http://www.safety-net.org.uk/supportus/fundraising-events/child-safety-week-24-30-june-2013-businesses/

Safety Net will also be present at various project activities & events across the city to support children to think about their Safety Heroes in the community and schools, including; Rudyard Kipling FASTWORKS in Woodingdean and Crew Club ‘Here Comes Summer!’ in Whitehawk. Details of these events can be found on the website www.safety-net.org.uk

Look out for our Safety Rocks Summer Newsletter for summer safety and activities coming to a venue near you!