themoscowtimes--2019-12-29--Pro-Russian Separatists and Ukraine Begin All-for-All Prisoner Swap

Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine started a full prisoner swap on Sunday, driving all remaining detainees in the five-year conflict to a handover point and starting to unload them. The swap, at a checkpoint near the industrial town of Horlivka in the Donetsk region, was expected to see Ukraine hand over 87 separatists in exchange for 55 pro-government Ukrainians, with armed troops from both sides looking on. Ukrainian men and women dressed in civilian clothing got off a bus after being brought to the rendez-vous point by separatist forces and were then herded into a nearby tent. "The first 25 freed Ukrainians soon will be home," Ukraine's presidential office said.  The exchange, scheduled to be completed later on Sunday, is likely to be hailed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as proof he is making good on a promise to bring captured Ukrainians home. But some in Ukraine are unhappy that riot police accused of opening fire on protesters against the country's Russia-friendly then-president Viktor Yanukovich in 2014 are among those expected to be handed over. And though the swap will help build confidence between the two sides who are wrangling over how to implement a 2014 peace deal, serious disagreements remain and full normalization is a long way off. "Today’s prisoner exchange in Donbass will bring relief to the persons involved and their families, but it will not bring the (peace) settlement any closer," Dmitri Trenin, head of the Moscow Carnegie Center and a former colonel in the Russian army, wrote on social media. "The... terms remain anathema in Kiev, and this won’t change. The conflict is much more likely to become frozen than resolved." Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy prepared the ground for the exchange at a summit in Paris earlier this month. Kiev's forces have been battling separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine since 2014 in a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives. Sporadic fighting continues despite a ceasefire agreement. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.  There have been several prisoner exchanges between Kiev and the separatists. In the last swap, conducted in December 2017, Ukraine handed over about 300 captives in exchange for around 70 people. Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict. Widely criticized domestically for his plan to grant special status to Donbass to help end the five-year conflict, Zelenskiy's latest actions have given rise to cautious optimism in some quarters. In September, after a carefully negotiated rapprochement, Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners in a move that brought Western praise. Relations between the two countries have shown signs of improving in other areas too, including in the gas sector where Kiev and Moscow are discussing a new transit contract. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of using gas supplies to put pressure on it, but last week the parties managed to agree on the main points of a new deal.


unian--2019-12-14--On Dec 18, specific date for Donbas ceasefire, prisoner swap to be announced – Prystaiko

On December 17, Ukraine will require the OSCE to change the mandate of the organization's mission to ensure obtaining accurate information on the disengagement of forces and weapons.  Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko hopes that on Wednesday, December 18, the Ukrainian side to the Trilateral Contact group on Donbas settlement in Minsk will hear a specific date for a ceasefire start and exchange of prisoners.  "Before the end of the year, I hope we will exchange our POWs, and an agreement will be reached on Wednesday," Prystaiko told a TV panel show "Svoboda Slova" [Freedom of Speech].  Prystaiko says, working groups of the Trilateral Contact Group are set to meet in Minsk on December 18.  Read alsoPrystaiko: Work on Steinmeier formula to continue, there will be no federalization  In addition, the security group will require that the OSCE verify the presented data. The humanitarian group will do a final verification of prisoner swap lists.  On December 17, Ukraine will require the OSCE to change the mandate of the organization's mission to ensure obtaining accurate information on the disengagement of forces and weapons.  In an interview with UNIAN, Vadym Pristayko earlier said that Ukraine had completed the designation of new sites for the disengagement of forces and weapons.


unian--2019-12-29--Prisoner swap: Ukraine hands over 127 people to Donbas militants – Ukraine's official

Fourteen people refused to take part in the swap and return to occupied Donbas.  Advisor to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Serhiy Sivokho says Ukraine has handed over 127 people to Russian-backed militants in the self-proclaimed "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" ("DPR"/"LPR"), as part of a prisoner swap.  "[We] handed over 127 [people] and took 76," he told the Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske, which posted the relevant video on Twitter on December 29.  Sivokho noted that the Ukrainian side expected to get 80 people released by agreement, but four of them remained in the occupied territory because of their families.  In turn, Ukraine's Representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group for the Donbas settlement Valeria Lutkovska said the Ukrainian side was set to transfer 141 people to the occupied territory of Donbas, but 14 persons refused to participate in the swap.  Lutkovskaya also added that the data needed to be clarified.  As UNIAN reported earlier, the prisoner swap of held persons between the Ukrainian government and representatives of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" took place at the Mayorsk checkpoint in Donetsk region on Sunday, December 29.


unian--2019-12-30--"People get nabbed every day" – ex-Donbas prisoner on realities in occupied areas

Maksym Teorenter says he had to fight for his life and dignity throughout all four years in prison.  People get arrested every day in the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas, says Maksym Teorenter, one of the ex-prisoners of the Donbas occupation authorities who was released as part of a major swap on December 29.  "People get nabbed there every day. Life is impossible there. No one is happy. Ukraine is like Hollywood to them! You can't imagine ... Coming here is like coming to Hollywood," Teorenter told Liga net.  According to the ex-prisoner, throughout the time spent in captivity, he had to fight for his life and dignity.  Read alsoZelensky: If I had 100 Berkut police troops, I would swap them all for just one intel operative  "Believe me, they want to take away from us this dignity and this honor. It's very hard there, those people loathe us," Teorenter said.  Also, he claimed he personally saw and knew another 15 Ukrainians who are still being held hostage by Russian militants and have not been put on the swap list.  As UNIAN reported earlier, on December 29, an exchange of held persons was carried out between the Ukrainian side and representatives of the Russian-controlled occupation administrations in Donbas.  Seventy-six people were returned to Ukraine in exchange for 124 persons requested by the other side.  On the evening of the same day, liberated Ukrainians arrived at the Boryspil Airport near Kyiv.


tass--2019-03-25--Kremlin Different approaches obstruct all-for-all prisoner exchange in Donbass

Kremlin: Different approaches obstruct ‘all-for-all’ prisoner exchange in Donbass

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russia stands for the ‘all-for-all’ format of exchanging prisoners of war (POWs) in Donbass, but the sides keep displaying different approaches to this process, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.  "I would like to reiterate the Russian president’s earlier statement that Russia has been long backing this process [‘all-for-all’ exchange], and in this case it all comes to a halt due to different approaches to what the ‘all- for-all’ process actually means," Peskov said.  "Unfortunately, nuances remain regarding the approaches," Peskov added, but did not specify the nature of the so-called ‘nuances.’  The prisoner swap issue remains one of the key points of the Minsk agreements. The last and biggest Donbass prisoner swap took place on December 27, 2017. Kiev handed over 233 prisoners to the Donbass republics and received 73 prisoners in return.  Both parties stressed that the prisoner exchange process had not been completed and they were determined to do everything possible to continue it in 2018.  In other media


tass--2019-12-28--Zelensky confirms preparations for prisoner exchange in Donbass on Dec 29

KIEV, December 28. /TASS/. Kiev is preparing to exchange prisoners in Donbass on Sunday, December 29, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on Saturday.  "Prisoners will be exchanged. We are expecting that," he was quoted as saying by the presidential office’s press service. "Verification of all people should be fully completed," Zelensky added.  Prisoner exchange is expected near the Mayorskoye point of entry/exit on the line of contact in Donbass early on Sunday. According to DPR Commissioner for Human Rights Darya Morozova, Donetsk and Lugansk will hand over 55 people to Kiev and expect to receive 87 people.


activistpost--2019-01-30--New State Regulations Force a California Charity for the Homeless to Close Shop

For the past four years, Deliverance San Diego has been delivering hot meals to the city’s homeless population every Friday, averaging 200 donated meals on any given evening. Now, due to new guidelines passed by the State Legislature of California, the non-profit is ceasing operations and will dissolve by the end of the month.  Through their existing model, hot meals were prepared in volunteer homes and distributed on the streets.  “Volunteers from various churches gather at 17th and Commercial downtown to load four food wagons with chili, soup, cornbread, water, and other snacks,” the group’s web site explains. “We offer prayer and spiritual support, but one of the easiest things we do is get someone’s name and remember it.”  Through the new requirements, set forth by the San Diego Department of Environmental Health, Deliverance would need to use licensed, state-approved kitchens, implement hand-washing stations, and meet a variety of other requirements.  With a yearly budget of less than $7,000, according to the non-profit’s treasurer, Deliverance determined it can no longer sustain operations without extensive and expensive organizational changes. “We’re on a shoestring budget,” explains volunteer Gary Marttila, “so working out all those logistics became too big of an obstacle to overcome.”  ABC 10 News in San Diego tells more of their story:  As the San Diego Union-Tribune explains, several of the law’s backers have expressed surprise at the closure of Deliverance. According to Heather Buonomo, a program coordinator with the Department of Environmental Health, some sort of workaround may have been available or achievable. “We’re happy to work with them to find a solution that works for their charitable organization,” she said. According to Monique Limón, one of the bill’s authors, “The law would encourage more charities to provide food for the needy while also creating a level of oversight to ensure they follow proper health guidelines.”  The fact that it didn’t even try says something about the pressure that these policies put on small and vulnerable charities and institutions who don’t feel they have political sway.  Yet it’s unclear what exactly would or could have been done if Deliverance had tried to negotiate with the state and find “a solution that works.” And the fact that it didn’t even try or think it could try says something about the pressure that these policies put on small and vulnerable charities and institutions who don’t feel they have political sway.  Likewise, one can make any number of arguments about food safety, as Limón does, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which more burdens, more requirements, and tighter regulations will somehow “encourage more charities to provide food for the needy.”  The reality is that the state’s dream of regulated soup and sandwiches is taking precedence over the bottom-up activity of neighbors who are passionate about loving their neighbors. Is that really an acceptable trade-off, particularly in an area that so desperately needs an intimate and personalized approach?  “We’ve sought to provide comfort to those who are going through an incredibly difficult time,” says Deliverance’s press release on the closure. “In many situations, they are without a home due to no fault of their own. This action by the state creates significant barriers to those organizations like ours who simply want to show God’s love through a hot meal and some conversation.”  Given the good—and thus far, safe—work of organizations like Deliverance, such regulations represent a prime example of the “unseen costs” of government action. In some cases, well-intended government policies lead to trade imbalances or economic surpluses or corporate cronyism or community inequities—all of which yield their own forms of social corrosion. But in cases such as these, we see the ill effects of these policies on charitable activity, resulting in real and tangible barriers to human love and relationship. This article was reprinted with permission from the Acton Institute and was sourced from FEE.org Joseph Sunde is an associate editor and writer for the Acton Institute. His work has appeared in venues such as The Federalist, First Things, Intellectual Takeout, The City, The Christian Post, The Stream, Patheos, LifeSiteNews, Charisma News, The Green Room, Juicy Ecumenism, Ethika Politika, Made to Flourish, and the Center for Faith and Work. Joseph resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and four children.


birminghammail--2019-02-25--Replace charity shops with something more meaningful says leader

Replace charity shops with something 'more meaningful',  says leader

Charity shops could be developed into 'something meaningful' to help save town centres, according to the leader of Walsall Council.  Speaking at a recent meeting about the future of town centres, Cllr Mike Bird referred to charity shops as 'endemic', claiming that landlords have no incentive to develop them as they do not have to pay rates in the same way that other businesses do.  Charity shops receive a mandatory 80 per cent discount on their business rates, but their local authority can decide whether or not to offer any additional relief on the remaining 20 per cent.  And Cllr Bird has suggested removing any discretionary exemption from charity shops, potentially forcing landlords to develop the sites into something more profitable.  "To be honest, the retail offer across the UK has to shrink," he said.  "And I said only this week, the retail offer has to be surrounded in the periphery by that residential development, because your customers there are then walking into your town centres, enjoying the leisure offer, which I think is where retail will go in the future.  "I think it’s the guy who started Iceland who said that high streets now are going to be nail shops, charity shops and coffee bars.  "The charity shops obviously are endemic because once they’re in there then the owner doesn’t have to pay any rates. So therefore there’s no incentive for that individual to develop that site of that shop into something meaningful.  "So maybe we have to look at that and say ‘right, I think we have to look at the charity shop as a discretionary exemption.  "And maybe we should say no, sorry Mr Landowner, you might live miles away but we’re not going to give you that discretion. Which makes them think ‘what have I got to do to fill this shop?’  "And I think that’s the pressure we’ve got to put on absent landlords. We all suffer from this. It’s an investment when you’ve got a tenant, but it’s a liability when you haven’t. So we’ve got to make that investment a liability, so they turn it back into an investment."  Cllr Bird was speaking at the West Midlands Combined Authority 's (WMCA) Housing and Land Development Board, where councillors were considering progress on the Town Centres Programme.  Bilston in Wolverhampton, Bordesley Green in Birmingham, West Bromwich East, the St Thomas Quarter in Dudley and the St Matthew's Quarter in Walsall were all revealed as pilot areas for the West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) Town Centre Programme last year.


birminghammail--2019-03-20--Solihull cycle scheme set to become a charity

A Solihull scheme put in place to promote cycling is set to become a full-blown charity.  Solihull Wheels For All, which runs sessions at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, was set up to support a wide range of riders.  The project includes work to run activities for those with physical and learning disabilities, with a number of specially-adapted bicycles available.  The council had played a key role in setting up Wheels For All back in 2014, but it argues that it would now benefit from becoming an independent charity - and that this would boost the opportunities to increase the fleet of bikes.  The move, due to be approved by Cllr Joe Tildesley, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and sport, later this week, would save the local authority £2,066 - with the money reassigned to other public health initiatives.  Sadie Walker, the council's sports development and facilities officer, said: "This option would allow community and partner ownership, and more importantly the ability to access funding streams that are currently inaccessible to the council."  Wheels for All runs weekly sessions on the Tudor Grange athletics track from March to November.  Between April 2017 and March last year, almost 300 people had taken part  -more than half of whom had a disability.  While a significant number of participants are from Solihull - around 40 per cent - the sessions also attract considerable interest from neighbouring Birmingham, as well as involvement from people living in other authorities, including Redditch and Sandwell.  Should a transition to charity status be approved, Ms Walker said Solihull Council would retain a place on the Wheels for All steering group.


birminghammail--2019-04-18--Heartwarming response from community for homeless dogs charity

A mum has come up with a pioneering way to help homeless people's pets - as well as the environment.  Rebecca Jackson uses shredded-up packaging to make waterproof mats for Street Vet, a charity that supports street sleeper’s dogs.  Sam's Bostin Bites, the cafe she works at in Cradley Heath, has an endless supply of plastic bread bags, which she collects to make the DIY crochet mats.  She was inspired to help the charity after her sons Harry, 11, and eight-year-old James, returned home from school with a letter about a student leadership programme.  Pupils at Timbertree Academy were asked to help support the charity by donating blankets, leads, collars, treats and toys to make life on the streets more comfortable for the loyal canine companions.  Speaking to Black Country Live, Rebecca, who lives in Cradley Heath, said: "As my sons were collecting for the dogs, I thought they'd be a good idea to help prevent their beds and blankets getting soggy - I'd heard of something similar for homeless people.  "At the cafe we try to be as environmentally friendly as possible but are conscious we throw away a huge number of plastic bread bags.  "They're waterproof, insulating and washable so it was the perfect way of up-cycling them for a great cause.”  When asked on how long it takes to create one of the mats, the 46-year-old said that it can take up to five evenings due to the plastic being harder to work with than standard wool.  In addition to her own donations, Rebecca also managed to convince The Big Pet Store in Hereward Rise, Halesowen, to donate £300 worth of goods  to the charity.  Store manager, Darren Burke, said: "The dogs that are on the street are often the only thing homeless people have and it strikes a cord with us.  “I donated things that I thought they might want: treats, toys, a few blankets and things that I thought they wouldn't have, luxury things that they wouldn't go out and buy.”


birminghammail--2019-05-20--Golden Tamworth couple celebrate wedding anniversary by donating to charity

A kind Tamworth couple celebrated their marriage milestone by giving donations to charity.  Golden wedding couple Geoff and Jackie Dawson, from Bonehill, tied the knot in St Helens back on May 10, 1969. But instead of presents, they asked for donations to Macmillan Cancer Support and First Responders at their Statfold Barn celebrations, raising hundreds in the process - £250 for Macmillan and £170 for First Responders.  Jackie said: “When you get to this age you have got everything you want and people do want to give so we thought we would ask for donations. We have never needed the charities but you hear so many good reports of what they do.”  Jackie, 74, and Geoff, 71 have a shared love of music, theatre and gardening and often take their motorhome to Scotland and France. But when they first met in 1966 Jackie was engaged to another man!  Geoff said: “I first met Jackie the day I started work at Pilkingtons in St Helens. I was shown into the computer room where I would be working and my eyes were immediately drawn to an attractive young lady. I remember my first thoughts were ‘I hope I will be working with her’.  “And so it turned out - we worked together operating the computer. Initial prospects for us were not promising. I was 18 and she was nearly 21 and engaged but we worked really well together, enjoyed each other’s company and laughed a lot. And, as you can see, it did work out.  “Our wedding, like most others back then, was a simple affair. You can see it was a long time ago because the pictures are in black and white! We got married at the local methodist church followed by a reception in the upstairs room of a pub. We only just fit into the room and Jackie had to make her entrance to the top table by crawling underneath it!”  Remembering how they got together, Jackie said: “It was a bit slow at first but it was inevitable. We knew after a few months really. We worked shifts together, mornings and afternoons, and we worked really hard so we could finish early.”  Their honeymoon was a three day stay in a hotel in Fishguard, south Wales, or so they thought!  Geoff recalled: “Unfortunately there was a mix up. The date I thought was our last night, they thought was the day we were leaving and all their rooms were booked by members of a visiting London orchestra.  “They took pity on us and found us a local B and B not far away which also had members of the orchestra staying. So on our honeymoon we were serenaded by musicians practising for that evening performance. Maybe that is where our shared interest in classical music first developed!”  The couple moved to Bonehill in 1987 and have lived there ever since. They have two sons, Phillip, 47 and John, 44, and four grandchildren, Rose, Natt, Connie and Joe.  And asked their secret, Geoff said: “There has always got to be love there but we also get on really well. We are each other’s favourite company.  “We still make a great team, we still enjoy each other’s company and we still laugh a lot and long may it continue.”  Jackie said: “We just get on really well. We are basically best friends and have the same interests. We don’t stop each other doing anything.”


birminghammail--2019-09-07--Woman finds 930 stuffed inside an album she bought at Mind charity shop for 350

Woman finds £930 stuffed inside an album she bought at Mind charity shop for £3.50

A woman got a lovely surprise when she found £930 in cash hidden inside an item she bought at a charity shop for just £3.50.  The money was stashed inside the sleeve of a Carpenters LP at a Mind store.  Hannah Renwick, aged 26, picked up the record, which was priced at £3.50, and banknotes started to fall out.  But honest Hannah did the decent thing and handed the money to shop staff and now it has gone into the mental health charity's coffers.  Hannah told the Manchester Evening News about her astonishing find at the Stockton Heath, Warrington, branch.  "It was a really weird experience," Hannah said. "I was just looking through the charity shops in Stockton Heath on Saturday, as I absolutely love charity shops.  "I try not to buy anything new and like buying second-hand. I was just flicking through the records outside the Mind shop and I was quite shocked and perplexed when money fell out."  She initially thought she was the victim of a prank but then realised that the cash was old-style bank notes.  Kate Holt, the assistant manger, checked and realised the album was not a gift aid item and they couldn't trace the owner.  After returning the cash, Hannah opted to buy the Carpenters album for £3.50.  Hannah, a chemistry graduate who works at the National Nuclear Labority, said she thought there would be "around £500 or so", so was shocked when the total came to £930.  She said that she had 'no hesitation" about handing the money in to the charity shop.  "My grandmother used to hide money in a place she thought it was safe and could never remember where the places were," she said.  "It did feel father strange handing over £3.50 for the album after I'd found all that money.  Kate Holt said all the money will go to Mind at a national level to provide advice and information to the one in four of people who will experience a mental health problem.

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Helen Bennicke, Jane Tyler)


birminghammail--2019-10-03--Breast cancer charity Coppafeel links with Slug Lettuce to raise awareness of killer condition

Breast cancer charity Coppafeel! links with Slug & Lettuce to raise awareness of killer condition

A national bar chain is partnering leading breast cancer charity Coppafeel! as part of a mission to raise awareness of the condition.  For a limited time only, Slug & Lettuce, will launch festive tipples to educate customers on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, encouraging regular self-checking and empowering young people to see their GP if anything changes  The chain will also donate 25p from each Berry Boobtini mocktail sold to the charity. From just £4.95, the specially-designed drink mixes strawberry purée shaken with coconut syrup, cranberry juice, lime and apple juice topped with a dollop of cream and a raspberry.  All Slug & Lettuce sites across the country, including those in Birmingham and the Black Country, will be working with CoppaFeel! University Boob Teams to host events and raise funds for the charity. These events include a number of ‘Boob Brunches’ where, for just £6.00 (£2.50 donation to CoppaFeel!) customers can enjoy a brunch dish, a Boobtini, hot drinks, a Boobette talk and a craft activity.  The charity looks forward to spreading more awareness with Slug & Lettuce’s support - as it’s proven that early detection of breast cancer saves lives.  Ellie Baldwin, at CoppaFeel! said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Slug & Lettuce. At CoppaFeel! we have made it our mission to get our message out there to the masses and what better way than through over 80 popular bars throughout the UK. Not only is the Berry Boobtini delicious but the 25p donation makes it even sweeter!”  Sarah Berry, Senior Brand Manager at Slug & Lettuce said: “Our partnership with CoppaFeel! is such an exciting time for us. Not only is it an incredibly worthy cause but the work they do throughout the UK is exceptional. We are excited to bring the Boobettes into bars up and down the country to spread the message even further.”


birminghammail--2019-10-13--What to expect at Resorts World charity shop selling new high-end fashion at bargain prices

Looking for a dress for the office Christmas party? Or some new workwear?  A new charity shop has opened at Resorts World - but it's no ordinary charity shop for this one sells brand new samples and faulty stock donated by high end retailers.  The 1869 Action for Children store is designed to feel like an indulgent shopping experience, without the hefty price tag, enabling you to pick up items for a fraction of their original price.  "The items are samples or faulty items donated to us by retailers because they are unable to sell them on the shop floor," said Charrice Richmond, retail project manager for Action for Children.  She added: "Some have broken zips or missing buttons, all of which are easily fixed. The labels are always crossed out or cut to make sure people don't try to return them to the original stores."  Examples include a blue Hobbs dress with large flowers that had a price tag of £159 but was being sold for £20 at 1869 store, just because the fabric is slightly snagged.  Another example is a Damsel in a Dress polka dot dress that would have retailed at £129 on sale for £20 at 1869 because it has a broken zip.  "New stock will be arriving each week, we're hoping for some menswear soon and additional childrenswear too," said Charrice.  "Everything that's arriving is last year's stock and many of the items from retailers like Hobbs and Phase Eight is faulty. It makes it a really environmentally friendly store. I'm not sure what would happen to all this stock if we didn't sell it. It would be a shame if it went to landfill."  What to expect at 1869  The new store has black walls, atmospheric lighting and sofas plus it smells good too.  "It was important to us to get the look and the smell of the shop right," said Charrice, "and the reaction we have had to it so far has been great."  Nostalgic photographs of a nearby orphanage hang on the wall and there's a selfie photo frame bearing the words 'Looking good bab!' Artificial flowers and greenery is trailed along the clothing racks and there's plenty of space to wander around.  There are jumpers folded on round tables and dresses, tops, skirts and trousers separated by colour on rails. A small rail offers childrenswear and there's a section in the corner full of bridalwear.  Mannequins in the window boast Amanda Wakeley dresses (normally known for retailing at over £1,000) for as little as £70 each.  Where does the money go?  Action for Children is hoping people in the Midlands will raise £20,000 to help them support some of the country’s most vulnerable children and young people. The store raised more than £1,000 on its launch night on Thursday October 10.  The name 1869 comes from the year the charity was founded when one of the first orphanages was opened in the UK. It was then known as the National Children's Charity.  Today, there are nearly Action for Children services across the UK, helping children in every aspect of life in the UK, from disability and youth services to fostering and young carers. Find out more here  Charrice added: “Every single purchase will go towards helping vulnerable and disadvantage children across the UK, often in desperate situations – treating yourself to a new pair of shoes or party dress really could make the world of difference.  "We want every child in the country to have a safe and happy childhood and we’re so excited to be bringing the 1869 experience to the Midlands."  Take a look at these new stores opening around Birmingham this autum:  The store has opened in what used to be the O'Neills shop at Resorts World. This large unit was used as a virtual reality experience centre for a while before it closed and remained empty for some time.  It's a pop-up store which is due to remain there until Christmas but Action for Children bosses hope it may stay well into 2020.  The store has been on tour around the UK since first opening in Watford and Norwich. So far, it has raised a total of £92,000.  Run by volunteers, many of whom are students from Solihull looking to gain retail experience and who have helped with the shop design and fittings.  The shop is volunteers, offering retail experience to students, and anyone looking for a way to meet new people and get involved with their community .  Ian Bennett, operations director of Resorts World Birmingham, said: "We are really excited to welcome the 1869 Action for Children pop-up, it’s a great addition to our retail mix that we think our guests will love.  "Action for Children does fantastic work and this is a brilliantly innovative idea that we’re delighted to support."  New store launches in and around Birmingham  There are lots of new shops coming to Birmingham this autumn - ready for the Christmas countdown.  The hmv Vault - said to be 'Europe's largest entertainment store' - has just opened in Dale End, and Levi's is taking over the old Apple store at Bullring.  There's also the first H&M HOME concept store opening in the city plus new designer children's store Base too.  Action for Children in the Midlands  For 150 years, Action for Children has been helping disadvantaged children across the UK through intervening early to stop neglect and abuse, fostering and adoption,supporting disabled children, and by campaigning to make life better for children and families.  With some 476 services the charity improved the lives of more than 387,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers across the UK last year.  Local services run by Action for Children include several Children’s Centres at Cape Hill, Hillside, Greets Green, Friar Park and Oldbury. It also supports the Midlands Adoption service and Sandwell Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS).


birminghammail--2019-11-13--Shopper who bought £1 Chinese vase from charity shop sells it for nearly £500,000

A shopper who bought a £1 vase from a charity shop has sold the antique for HALF A MILLION - after it was found to belong to an Chinese 18th century emperor.  The unnamed owner decided to pick up the yellow floral pear-shaped vase in a charity shop in Hertfordshire because he "liked the look of it".  Unaware of its significance he later listed the small yellow vase on eBay earlier this year only to find himself inundated with messages and bids.  Realising its potential he removed it from the site and took it to Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers' in Stansted Mountifitchet, Essex, for a valuation.  Specialists discovered the eight inch pear-shaped vase had been made for the Qianlong Emperor, who reigned from 1735 to 1796.  It is believed to have been kept in one of the emperor's palaces and commissioned in yellow, a special colour traditionally reserved for the ruler.  It is inscribed with an imperial poem that "praises incense" and two iron-red seal marks that read 'Qianlong chen han' - 'the Qianlong Emperor's own mark'.  The vase has a flat back so is designed to be attached to a wall, features floral decoration, and also reads 'Weijing weiyi' which translates to 'be precise, be undivided'.  The successful Chinese buyer bid a hammer price of £380,000, with extra fees taking the overall figure paid to £484,000.  Yexue Li, head of the Asian art department at Sworders, said: "The gentleman vendor was shocked and very excited when we explained its importance.  "It's a high quality vase because it was court commissioned, so it would have been of a high value when it was made.  "This has been the perfect auction story, a bargain find, a culturally important and beautiful work of art and a life changing sum of money for the vendor. He is understandably ecstatic."  The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty. He abdicated in favour of his son, the Jiaqing Emperor, and died three years later aged 87 in 1799


birminghammail--2019-12-05--Mental health charities to benefit following fundraisers in memory of Lichfield teenager Solly

MONEY raised following the death of a Lichfield teenager will be used to support young people with, and raise awareness of, mental health problems.  Solly Morris died at his home on Saturday, November 16, aged 14. The Friary High School pupil was one of eight siblings and his family say they have been overwhelmed by the support and comfort they have received from people in the city.  More than £15,000 has been raised through a gofundme page, a fundraiser at the Earl of Lichfield public house and a gathering at Lichfield Skate Park and, apart from the cost of a headstone for Solly, the money will be donated to the Midlands Air Ambulance, Young Minds – a charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people and Shout, the UK’s first 24/7 text service “for anyone in crisis any time, anywhere”.  Manned by a team of volunteers, Shout describes itself as a charity people can approach if they are struggling to cope and need immediate help.  “Young people should be encouraged to talk about how they feel,” said Solly’s mum Caroline.  “I think it will be a positive thing that the money donated will help put more counsellors in place.”  Solly’s funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday, December 4) at Lichfield Cathedral followed by a private service and burial at Christ Church.  The funeral costs were covered by the Co-operative as Solly was under 18.  His family would like to thank everyone who attended and who has made a donation.  Solly Morris was born on July 13, 2005. The youngest son in a family with eight siblings he was brother to Alex, 29, Zak, 22, Miriam, 20, David, 18, Nicky, 18, Toby, 16, and Hattie, 11.  He attended Christ Church Primary School and then The Friary School in Lichfield.  “Solly liked being out and about,” said his mum. “He loved the summer and unless it was wintertime he was never in.  “He was interested in lots of things – he could do tricks on his bike, he could ride a unicycle, he was good at archery and juggling.”  Caroline described her son, who was a committed vegetarian, as “funny, cheeky, talented”, “a rule-breaker” and “the class clown” but “gregarious” and someone who got on with people of all ages.  “He was very popular,” she said. “He had some amazing friends. He was quite a character down at the skate park.  “The outpouring of support from his friends has been phenomenal.  “They organised a special event at the skate park for him.  “We went along expecting a few young people but there were around 80 there.  “We would like to thank everyone for their support at this most difficult time – the good wishes and love have helped us.  “Solly was a bright, very much loved member of our family.  “We are all devastated by what has happened – our lives will never be the same.”  For more information about the Young Minds charity visit youngminds.org.uk  Anyone in a crisis, feeling anxious, worried or distressed can text Shout to 85258. Volunteers are available to respond 24 hours a day seven days a week.


birminghammail--2019-12-10--Banksy to raise money for homeless charities in wake of Birmingham mural

Banksy will raise money for homeless charities after his latest artwork in Birmingham featured a man sleeping on a bench went viral.  The poignant mural is of reindeer taking off into the sky next to, what will now become, an iconic bench in Vyse Street in the Jewellery Quarter .  An image of the Banksy and a homeless man called Ryan lying on the bench was posted on the fabled artist’s Instagram on Monday.  Banksy said: “God bless Birmingham. In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hot drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter - without him ever asking for anything.” #Banksy.”  It's today emerged that the artist has created merchandise for a concert in aid of homeless charities in his hometown of Bristol.  T-shirts with a festive design will go on sale at the Give a Sh*t Xmas concert, which also features an appearance by IDLES, at Bristol's Marble Factory on Thursday.  It was started two years ago by Portishead's Geoff Barrow and his band Beak will also play live on the night, while Martin Roberts from Homes Under The Hammer will compere.  All proceeds from the shirts will go to local charities The Wild Goose, 1625 Independent People, Feed the Homeless Bristol and Somewhere to Go.  Meanwhile, back here in Birmingham, the Banksy's paint work was 'defaced by a vandal' who reportedly shouted out "shall i tag it?" before spraying red noses on the reindeers.  Graffiti artist 'Hers' contacted BirminghamLive on Tuesday claiming he was responsible for the additional paint work.  The 25-year-old, from Quinton , said he is a huge fan of Banksy and only spray painted the noses red as "a subtle change."  He said: "I am a huge fan of Banksy as I am also a graffiti artist and follow him on Instagram. When I saw the video I went straight over to Vyse Street to take a look.  "What annoyed me was the fact that the mural was all about homelessness but then lots of money was being spent on guarding the mural. Why not spend that money helping homeless people?  "It annoyed me so I went and got a tin of red spray paint. I had a picture taken on the bench and then I went and sprayed the reindeer's noses red."  He said people begged him not to do it and there was 'screaming and shouting' when he sprayed the mural, adding: "I don't regret doing it. I have quite enjoyed the debate which has been taking place since i did it.  "I just hope people will start concentrating more on the homeless issue now rather than who painted the reindeer noses red."


breitbart--2019-12-12--Nine-Year-Old Gives Away 130 Bicycles to Charity

A Michigan girl is spreading joy to others by giving them a new set of wheels this holiday season.  Piper Shumar, 9, started a can collection to help buy bicycles for those who could not afford them, WPBN reported.  Piper began the tradition of donating bikes to her local chapter of Bikes for Tikes last year, when she donated two bikes.  This year, she set an initial goal of donating ten bikes, but she blew that out of the water when she collected 50,000 cans, enough to buy a total of 130 bikes to then donate to the charity.  Piper and several volunteers took the time out to assemble the 130 bicycles she purchased, along with an additional 110 bikes to be donated to children in Northern Michigan.  According to the Piper’s Project Facebook page, she plans on collecting enough cans to get enough money to purchase 200 bicycles next year.


breitbart--2019-12-23--Border Patrol Charity Gathers Christmas Gifts for Children of Fallen Agents

A group organized by Border Patrol agents recently collected and distributed Christmas and holiday gifts for the children of fallen agents. This marks the organization’s fifth year of giving.  Border Patrol agents in the El Centro Sector began an organization that became knows as the Fallen Agents Fund shortly before Christmas 2014, Mike Matzke told Breitbart Texas in his role as president of the fund. Matzke also serves as president of the National Border Patrol Council, Local 2554.  “The project began in 2014 when agents working at the Calexico Border Patrol Station decided to put on a Christmas present drive in remembrance of fallen Border Patrol agents and to support their children,” Matzke told Breitbart Texas in a phone interview. “We started with the names of 24 children of fallen agents in the local area. Since then, the number of children on the list has grown and we provided 400 gifts this year to more than 100 children in nine states.”  The Fallen Agents Fund, a 501(c)(3) charity that is also listed on the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #75034), puts up Christmas trees in various Border Patrol stations. The trees are decorated with name tags of children belonging to fallen agents.  “Agents take the tags and purchase gifts for that child and bring them back to the station,” Matzke explained. “Our group then collects the gifts and transports them to the Border Patrol station nearest the child’s home. Local agents who knew the fallen agent and their family deliver the gifts to the homes of the family or, in some cases, to sector chaplains.”  “I think the best part of the Fallen Agent Fund is that during the holidays when the children may be missing their parent,” Matzke continued. “We show them that their Border Patrol family has not forgotten them.”  Some families no longer live along the border, having moved to Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Louisiana. In those cases, the group incurs the cost of shipping the presents to the families.  The group branches out from the El Centro Sector and delivers presents all the way to the Del Rio Sector in Texas. From there, Del Rio agents take over and deliver the gifts to the remaining Texas sectors. “We can’t say enough about the work the chaplain and peer support in Del Rio Sector,” Agent Matzke said. “David Garcia and Rohan Godson do a great job of delivering the presents all across Texas.”  After returning from Texas, the El Centro Sector agents move west to the San Diego Sector to complete their rounds.  Matzke said anyone interested in contributing to the fund may make a contribution through the fund’s website.  A list of fallen Border Patrol agents can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Memoriam to Those Who Died in the Line of Duty page.


drudgereport--2019-12-04--Americans becoming less charitable...

Americans becoming less charitable...

Fewer Americans are giving money to charity, and their relationship with God may have something to do with it.  The share of U.S. adults who donated to charity dropped significantly between 2000 and 2016, according to an analysis released this month from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Vanguard Charitable.  By 2016, just over half — 53% — of Americans gave money to charity, down from 66% in 2000. That figure held mostly steady until the Great Recession. Then it started to drop off and took a dive after 2010, said report co-author Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs at the Lilly School.  The decline amounts to 20 million fewer households donating to charity in 2016 (the most recent year for which data was available) versus 2000, researchers said.  See also: Why Melinda Gates’s $1 billion pledge for women and girls is a game-changer  The analysis drew on data from the Philanthropy Panel Study, a data set within the University of Michigan’s Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which tracks the same 9,000 families’ charitable giving every two years.  One factor driving the decline: Americans are becoming less likely to attend religious services or identify with a specific religion.  “Attending services is correlated with giving to religious organizations, but it’s also correlated with giving to secular groups,” Osili said.  Giving to charity is, of course, a core belief for many of the world’s major religions. And very religious people of any faith are more likely to give to charity, one study by Baylor University researchers found.  But there are fewer very religious people than ever in the U.S. The share of the population who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” is now at 26%, up from 17% in 2009, according to 2018 and 2019 surveys by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan “fact tank” in Washington, D.C.  Some 65% of Americans describe themselves as Christians, down 12 percentage points since 2009, Pew found.  Religious organizations have traditionally gotten the lion’s share of Americans’ charitable dollars. But that’s fallen slightly recently. While religious groups still received the largest chunk of charitable dollars in 2018, at 29% of total giving, it was the first year that giving to religion fell below 30% of overall giving, according to the Giving USA annual report on philanthropy, now in its 64th year.  See also: The U.S. is the No. 1 most generous country in the world for the last decade  Some Catholics have said they’re giving less money to the church because of reports of sexual abuse by clergy. Nearly half of Catholics — 47% — said they were donating less to their individual parishes in response to reports of sexual abuse, a poll conducted by the Catholic magazine America found, according to the Giving USA report.  America’s uneven recovery from the Great Recession is also a factor  Households led by people with less than a high school education, less than $50,000 in income and/or less than $50,000 in wealth (a household’s total assets) decreased the share of income they donated to charity significantly after the recession, the Lilly School report found.  That’s do in part to the fact that not all Americans have recovered equally from the economic downturn, the report authors said.  “This shift is due to lower-income and lower-wealth Americans experiencing the slowest economic recovery since the Great Recession, during years when the cost of other items such as food, education and healthcare have increased,” said Jane Greenfield, president of Vanguard Charitable. “This has led to a decrease in the share of income available to give to charity.”  Millennials in particular give less of their income to charity than their older counterparts, the analysis found, probably because they “had the misfortune of entering the workforce during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression,” the authors noted.  When the baby boomers and Generation X entered the workforce, the percent of income they gave to charity increased. But millennials haven’t yet followed suit. “There’s a general trajectory that as you get older your income grows and your giving grows,” Osili said. “With millennials we haven’t seen that same pattern.”


eveningstandard--2019-01-08--An online charity shop received a 500k donation of designer items

An online charity shop received a £500k donation of designer items

If you’ve been watching Tidying up with Marie Kondo, you’re probably in the mood to give your wardrobe a major refresh and declutter.  And it would seem that one very expensively-dressed individual had the exact same idea.  After clearing their closet, an anonymous donor gave £500,000 worth of items to online charity shop Thrift+. With brands like Valentino and Gucci in the pile ("this old thing?") they eventually donated over 600 items.  Thrift+, an online clothing donation platform, which sends proceeds to an organisation of your choice, revealed the mammoth haul arrived last month. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, gave the brand 400 pairs of shoes, 150 dresses, 75 bags and over £6,000 worth of jewellery. (They probably could have opened their own charity shop.) Volume aside, it was the designer names on the labels that really made the platform sit up and take notice.  Joe Metcalfe, the founder of Thrift+, said, “When we received this donation, we were shocked. We knew that the total value would be high as the clothes were from such high-end designers, but we had no idea that they would be worth a whopping £500,000!”  They revealed that within the haul was a Gucci bag worth over £2,500, a Chloe dress worth £2,600, Alexander McQueen boots worth £1,160 and other brands like Stella McCartney, Givenchy and Valentino thrown into the mix. The haul has already gone live on the site, which anybody can go on to purchase the secondhand items from.  Metcalfe added, “Our shoppers are already snapping them up - last week we sold a beautiful Louis Vuitton bag within minutes of uploading it.”  The donor asked for proceeds to be sent to Dress For Success, a charity which aims to help women “achieve economic independence” by setting them up for success in the workplace.  Proceeds going to Dress for Success help pay for training and an appropriate outfit for women preparing for their first interviews.  Interested in donating your old designer (or high street) threads to Thrift+? The clothing donation platform will send a box to your home for you to fill up, then after you’ve dropped it off they run it through their quality control, photograph, upload and sell your clothing on your behalf online, with proceeds going to a charity of your choice. (You also get 25% back to use on Thrift+ if you see something you like.)  For more information on Thrift+, you can head to their website and call in your first donation box. To donate to Dress for Success directly or find out more about their cause, check out their site here.


eveningstandard--2019-02-01--More than 150 volunteers brave freezing conditions to sleep in stations in aid of Railway Children c

More than 150 volunteers brave freezing conditions to sleep in stations in aid of Railway Children charity

More than 150 people braved sub-zero temperatures to spend the night on station concourses to support the Railway Children charity  Volunteers slept overnight in four of Britain’s major stations including London Bridge in aid of vulnerable children who run away from home both in Britain and abroad.  The railway is one of the easiest ways to travel for runaway children, and this year the British Transport Police estimates it will deal with 10,000 child safeguarding incidents on Britain’s railways, a 20 per cent increase from 2017/18.  Directors from Network Rail, train companies, rail industry partners and politicians, took part in the sleep out, which was sponsored by Virgin Trains, to help raise £25,000 for the charity.  Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing director for the London North Western route, who spent the night at Manchester Piccadilly, said: “As an industry, with thousands of staff in stations across Britain, we are often the eyes and ears who can spot distressed children and young people and help get them the support they need.  “On one of the coldest nights of the year so far, the sleep out was a sobering reminder of how important it is to raise money for the Railway Children charity so it can continue to provide much-needed and valuable services.”  Among those taking part were the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, who slept out at Birmingham New Street, and the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, at Liverpool Lime Street.  Natasha Grice, executive director of people at Virgin Trains, said: “The experience of sleeping out for just one night helped us appreciate in a very small way some of the many challenges vulnerable children face on a daily basis – particularly in such extreme cold weather.  "It was a privilege to be able to join our colleagues from the whole rail industry to help raise the funds Railway Children needs to continue their vital work supporting and protecting vulnerable children and young people.”


eveningstandard--2019-02-07--Michel Roux Jr and Andrew Wong help raise more than 70000 for DEBRA charity at the Great Chefs Din

Michel Roux Jr and Andrew Wong help raise more than £70,000 for DEBRA charity at the Great Chefs Dinner

A night where top chefs cooked for the great and the good has raised more than £70,000 for charity, it has been announced.  The Great Chefs Dinner, held at Roux at the Landau – the restaurant inside the Langham hotel – saw six of the capital’s top chefs each prepare a course for an evening in aid of DEBRA, a charity which supports those suffering with life-threatening skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.  Michel Roux Jr, who holds two Michelin stars at London institution Le Gavroche, led the chefs through a six course supper. Those cooking were the Langham's executive chef Chris King and executive pastry chef Andrew Gravett, alongside royal chef Mark Flanagan MVO and Italian chocolatier Gianluca Fusto. The evening’s culinary highlight was Andrew Wong, celebrated for his Chinese cooking at Victoria site A. Wong and his latest venture, Kym’s, which the Standard’s Fay Maschler awarded a rare five stars. The menu included seared Wong's scallop cheung fun, served with crispy Cantonese pork belly with mustard, honey and liquorice soy, and Roux Jr's foie gras-stuffed quail with Jerusalem artichoke, pear and black truffle.  Among those in attendance at the £345-a-ticket night were Olympic silver medallist and the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall, nee Phillips, and her husband, former England Rugby captain Mike Tindall. Also present was DEBRA president Simon Weston CBE, the Falklands veteran who survived the 1982 bombing of RFA Sir Galahad, where he was left for dead with 46 per cent burns. Weston dined with his wife Lucy, as well as NHS interpreter and motivational speaker Myra Ali, who suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa. Ms Ali was joined by her sister Sahira.  The night concluded with a live auction hosted by auctioneer Charlie Ross, best known for his appearances on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip. Among the items Ross auctioned off was a painting done by the hotel’s in-house artist during the evening itself, while a silent auction offered the text of Earl Spencer’s eulogy to his late sister, Princess Diana.  Epidermolysis Bullosa, which is thought to affect more than 5,000 people in the UK, is genetic skin condition that causes the skin to blister or crack at the slightest pressure. Accordingly, those with it can suffer sores similar to third-degree burns, while the skin can slowly degenerate until only bone is left. With no known cure, EB can be fatal to those born with it. DEBRA, who have held the charity dinner four years in a row, work to fund research into the disease and provide care where it’s needed.  The next DEBRA fundraiser, the Butterfly Ball, will be on June 14 at Kensington’s Royal Garden Hotel, where Jason Atherton will be cooking alongside legendary three Michelin star chef Pierre Koffman. Tickets are £195 and can be bought here.


eveningstandard--2019-02-20--The Book Club is serving aposperiod pancakesapos and tampon macaroons to raise money for charity

The Book Club is serving 'period pancakes' and tampon macaroons to raise money for charity

Next month, Shoreditch bar the Book Club will be serving up ‘period' pancakes in support of the Bloody Big Brunch fundraising drive.  The eye-catching dish comes as part of a campaign from the group to destigmatize the conversation around periods, and, more pressingly, to raise funds for those who can't afford menstrual products.  The red velvet pancakes will be on the menu alongside macaroons shaped like tampons, and will be available from Sunday March 3–10, including on Pancake Day itself. Costing £8, or £9.50 with a macaroon, 15 per cent of the profits will support Bloody Big Brunch and their partners.  A boozy brunch on the first Sunday will kick off the campaign, with celebrity stylist Grace Woodward, Made in Chelsea’s Jess Woodley, and Tom Read Wilson from Celebs Go Dating all attending. Guests can also expect DJs and drag performances.  Attendees can bring along sanitary products to the event to exchange for a Bloody Mary, while those who forget can make a donation that will go towards giving products to those in need.  Big Bloody Brunch estimate they have helped more than 5,000 women purchase sanitary products they otherwise would be unable to pay for, and support charities including The Red Box Project, Bloody Good Period, Girlguiding Scotland, YWCA and Freedom4Girls.


eveningstandard--2019-04-16--Blues Kitchen Camden to host world record-breaking 100-hour charity jam

A 100-hour blues jam will take place in north London this summer in an attempt to break a world record, while also raising money for charity.  The marathon music session, which will be hosted by the Blues Kitchen Camden, will run from 8pm on Sunday June 9 until midnight on Thursday June 13.  Musicians of all abilities are invited to take part on a pay-to-play basis, contributing to more than four days of non-stop jamming.  The aim is to break the current Guinness World Record of 50 hours — also held by the Blues Kitchen Camden — which was set during celebrations for the venue’s fifth birthday in 2014.  Special musical guests will be announced both in the run up to and during the event.  Beds will also be set up in the venue’s upstairs offices for any musicians in need of a restorative nap.  The jam will be raising money for Help Refugees, which aids and advocates for refugees around the world, as well as Camden Music Trust, which funds music education programmes and scholarships in the area.  Musicians need to donate £3 to take part, and attendees will be asked to contribute the same amount. Volunteers will also be collecting money from audience members during the jam.  For those who can’t make it down to the event, the whole thing will be live-streamed on the venue’s Facebook and YouTube pages, with a button allowing viewers to donate online.  The jam comes as part of the venue’s 10th birthday celebrations. The Blues Kitchen has two other London branches in Brixton and Shoreditch.  Musicians can sign up to play here.


eveningstandard--2019-04-29--DEBRA Butterfly Ball 2019 Jason Atherton and Pierre Koffmann to reunite for charity dinner

DEBRA Butterfly Ball 2019: Jason Atherton and Pierre Koffmann to reunite for charity dinner

Internationally acclaimed chefs Jason Atherton and Pierre Koffmann will be among those creating dishes for a night in aid of UK charity DEBRA.  The DEBRA Butterfly Ball will take place on June 14 at Kensington’s Royal Garden Hotel, and the black tie event will see Atherton and Koffmann join world-class pastry chef Claire Clark MBE and the venue’s executive chef Steve Munkley to cook a four course dinner for guests.  The night will also include a Champagne reception, wine with each course, live music from band 29 Fingers, and an address from Falklands war veteran and DEBRA president Simon Weston CBE. Weston famously survived the 1982 bombing of RFA Sir Galahad, though it left him with 46 per cent burns.  Multi Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social chef and international restaurateur Atherton will be cooking a starter of Colchester crab on toast with brown crab butter, lemon gel, pickled cucumber and celery. Legendary French chef Koffmann – one of the few UK-based chefs to have held three Michelin stars – will be in charge of the meat course, cooking up a fillet of beef wellington served with sauce Bordelaise potato gratin and seasonal vegetables.  Munkley will prepare a fish course of pan seared stonebass and pistachio arancini, while Clark with close the meal with a dessert of “tea and toast”, featuring an Earl Grey cheesecake with bergamot gel, lavender crème fraiche parfait and baba toast.  The event follows the fourth edition of the Great Chefs Dinner in February, which saw Michel Roux Jr and Andrew Wong help to create a six-course feast at the Langham hotel, also in aid of DEBRA. The night raised more than £70,000.  Tickets for the Butterfly Ball will cost £195 per person, with all proceeds going towards DEBRA, the only UK charity dedicated to funding research into and supporting people who suffer from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a life-threatening condition which causes severe blistering. It is said to leave skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wing – hence the evening's name.  DEBRA Butterfly Ball will take place on June 14 at Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, W8 4PT. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit debra.org.uk


eveningstandard--2019-05-07--Brits aposlosing trust in charitiesapos as donations fall for third year in row

Brits 'losing trust in charities' as donations fall for third year in row

The number of people in the UK regularly giving to charity has dropped for the third year in a row.  The Charities Aid Foundation said it was a sign the public’s trust in charities is falling.  The foundation’s “UK Giving” report today found the proportion of people either donating money to charity directly or sponsoring a friend or family member dropped to 65 per cent in 2018. This was down from 69 per cent in 2016.  And just 48 per cent of those surveyed said they believed charities were trustworthy.  Susan Pinkney, the Charities Aid Foundation’s head of research, said: “With three years’ worth of data, we can now see a clear trend in people’s charitable giving and it is headed in a worrying direction.  “If people lack trust, that means they worry that their hard-earned money is not being well spent when donated to charities.  “This is a challenge that the entire charity sector needs to tackle head on, and find ways to inspire people to give and demonstrate to them that their money is making a difference.”  However, the report also made clear the UK remains one of the most generous countries in the world, consistently ranked in the top 10 of the foundation’s annual “World Giving Index”.


eveningstandard--2019-05-28--aposEgg Boyapos donates 54000 to charity supporting victims of the Christchurch terror attacks

'Egg Boy' donates £54,000 to charity supporting victims of the Christchurch terror attacks

A teenage boy who went viral for egging an Australian senator has donated £54,000 to the victims of the Christchurch terror attack.  Will Connolly, 17, smashed an egg on the head of former federal senator Fraser Anning over his comments blaming Muslim immigration for the attack at two mosques that killed 51 people.  The teenager shot to Internet fame as “Egg Boy” after a video of the incident at a press conference in Melbourne went viral.  Supporters of the teenager set up two GoFundMe pages to raise money for his legal expenses but Will decided instead to donate the nearly $100,0000 AUD to a charity that supports the victims of the attack.  In an Instagram post Will wrote: “Finally!!! After a huge amount of red tape,$99,922.36 has today been transferred to the Christchurch Foundation and Victims Support.  “For those of you who don’t know, there were 2 Go Fund Me pages set up to help cover the cost of my legal fees and to ‘buy more eggs’.  “Gratefully, Gordon Legal acted probono for me so I don’t have any legal fees. I decided to donate all monies to help provide some relief to the victims of the massacre... it wasn’t mine to keep.  Melbourne teenager Will Connolly, known as ‘EggBoy’ speaks out  “I want to thank Corey and @sajjad12345 who set up the funds and every single person who donated to the money and made this possible.  “To the victims of the Tragedy, I whole heartedly hope that this can bring some relief to you.  The post was liked nearly 64,000 times and commenters praised the teenager as a “legend.”  In an interview following the egging, Will said: "This egg has united people and money has been raised, tens of thousands of dollars has been raised for those victims," Mr Connolly said.  "It's going to help people affected by the tragedy in Christchurch, every cent."  He maintained the stunt was intended to be a “few laughs with mates” and did not expect the Senator to react to the egging.  Mr Anning appeared to hit the teenager twice after he was egged and his supporters then restrained Mr Connolly on the ground.


eveningstandard--2019-05-28--Ex-wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos pledges half of her 275 billion fortune to charity

Ex-wife of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos pledges half of her £27.5 billion fortune to charity

The ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has promised to donate at least half her fortune to charity, just months after finalising her divorce from the world's richest man.  MacKenzie Bezos, 49, reportedly received a stake in Amazon worth around £27.5 billion when she amicably divorced her husband of 16 years in April.  She has now agreed to give more than half of the money to philanthropic causes by signing the Giving Pledge – a commitment made by America’s billionaires to donate a majority of their wealth to charity, either during their lifetimes or in their wills.  The Giving Pledge was launched in 2010 by 40 of America’s wealthiest individuals and couples, including Bill and Melinda Gates.  Since then, it has been signed by 204 billionaires from across the world, ranging in age from 30s to 90s, according to the philanthropic collective’s official website.  In her letter to the Giving Pledge, Ms Bezos said she had “a disproportionate amount of money to share”.  "We each come by the gifts we have to offer by an infinite series of influences and lucky breaks we can never fully understand," she added.  “My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.”  Ms Bezos ranks 22nd on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with a a personal fortune estimated at $36.6 billion (almost £28.9 million).  Her former husband leads the global rankings with a net worth of roughly $114 billion (around £89.9 million) although he is notably absent from the Giving Pledge’s list of signatories.  Mr Bezos expressed pride at his former wife’s move, writing in a Twitter post: “MacKenzie is going to be amazing and thoughtful and effective at philanthropy, and I’m proud of her. Her letter is so beautiful. Go get ‘em MacKenzie.”  The author and mother-of-four was one of 19 new Giving Pledge signatories announced on Tuesday.  The group also included Brian Acton, the co-founder of WhatsApp messenger and Paul Sciarra, the co-founder of Pinterest.  American business magnate and veteran investor Warren Buffett is one of the Giving Pledge’s co-founders.  He has praised the group’s generosity, calling it “a reflection of the inspiration we take from the many millions of people who work quietly and effectively to create a better world for others, often at great personal sacrifice.”


eveningstandard--2019-06-27--Kit Harington donates over 7000 to Game of Thrones fansapos charity fundraiser

Kit Harington donates over £7,000 to Game of Thrones fans' charity fundraiser

Kit Harington donated over £7,000 to an online fundraiser set up by Game of Thrones fans in aid of learning disabilities charity Mencap.  The actor sent his “deepest and most heartfelt thank you” to fans as he added £7728.75  (£6,138 with £1545.75 Gift Aid) to the fund to help it meet its £50,000 target.  In an emotional message shared on Mencap’s official website, Harington wrote: “To those of you who set this page up in my name and to those of you who contributed and left messages, please accept my deepest and most heartfelt thank you.  “This donations page lifted my heart and brought tears to my eyes, what a beautiful gift to receive… how generous from you all.  “Mencap is a truly wonderful charity and the money given here will go to the most incredible cause.”  The star signed off his message by sending “love and respect from beyond the wall.”  Harington has been an ambassador for Mencap since 2016 and fronted a video campaign for the charity the following year.  Fans started the JustGiving page after the Game of Thrones finale as a way of thanking the star for “the sheer amount of love and skill he put into Jon Snow for us to enjoy.”  “Kit Harington has given so much to the fans of Game of Thrones over the past decade playing the King in the North, Jon Snow,” the description on the page read.  “He absolutely nailed his performance and we loved every second of screen-time we had with him.  “This fundraiser is here to show Kit that we’re incredibly thankful to him for the sheer amount of love and skill he put into Jon Snow for us to enjoy.”  Harington’s message comes after he checked into a “wellness retreat” in order to focus on “personal issues.”  A representative for the actor told Standard Online: “Kit has decided to utilise this break in his schedule as an opportunity to spend some time at a wellness retreat to work on some personal issues.”


eveningstandard--2019-07-04--Social Sunday Everything you need to know about Jason Athertonaposs charity spectacular

Social Sunday: Everything you need to know about Jason Atherton's charity spectacular

Jason Atherton deals in good food – but this week, the chef and restaurateur is more interested in food that does some good.  The fifth annual Social Sunday kicks off on July 7, a day which will see top chefs take part in fundraising meals and initiatives hosted across Atherton’s restaurants and beyond, with proceeds going towards the charity Hospitality Action.  The charity was first established back in 1837, and offers support to individuals who work or have worked in the hospitality industry, and who find themselves in times of crisis. Atherton is the principal patron of Hospitality Action, and the Social Sunday initiative has raised more than £150,000 over the last five years.  Three restaurants from Atherton’s The Social Company group will be joined by special guests for fundraising lunches, with a total of 85 dining hotspots across London and the rest of the UK getting involved in all sorts of ways.  Smaller happenings include restaurants 12:51 by James Cochran, The Stafford, El Pastor, Berners Tavern, Bryn Williams at Somerset House and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal donating £1 from every bill to the charity, with The Drapers Arms and Elystan Street donating the same from every roast dinner sold.  Collaborations from big name chefs are among the most exciting prospects on offer. Claude Bosi will be welcoming friend and fellow two Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains to his highly acclaimed restaurant at Bibendum – unfortunately, but understandably, this event has now sold out.  Keen foodies can, however, still get their hands on tickets to many more star-studded dinners. This is our pick of the best events happening in London this Social Sunday.  Atherton himself will host lunch at his flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social, with some very distinguished guests joining him. Alongside the restaurant’s head chef Dale Bainbridge, Atherton will be joined by his former mentor, legendary three Michelin-starred chef Pierre Koffmann, and rising star Tom Brown, whose Hackney Wick restaurant Cornerstone was recently named the third best in the country at the National Restaurant Awards. The quartet will together cook a six-course menu peppered with their signature dishes.  In Farringdon, Mark Jarvis will be joined at his restaurant Anglo for a five-course feast by four acclaimed chefs: Ben Murphy of Launceston Place, Oisin Rogers of The Guinea Grill, Neil Rankin of Temper and Karan Gokani of Hoppers.  It’s been all change at this Pollen Street spot recently – Atherton’s restaurant Little Social closed in May before reopening pretty sharply as No.5 Social. Former Pollen Street Social chef Kostas Papathanasiou is now in charge, and he’ll be inviting two fellow chefs from across The Social Company to cook with him on Social Sunday. Alex Craciun of currently closed, Japanese-inspired restaurant Sosharu will present a sashimi, while Paul Walsh – formerly of City Social, soon to be head chef of The Betterment – will cook a main of rose veal cutlet.  If you don't want the charitable fun to stop with the weekend, Dukes is continuing to be social until Tuesday. The Mayfair hotel may be best known for how it mixes a martini, but next week it’s blending the talents of two Norfolk-born chefs. On July 9, executive chef Nigel Mendham will be joined by Tom Aikens of Tom's Kitchen to create a six-course tasting dinner inspired by their shared East Anglian backgrounds and the county's coastal cuisine.  The Social Company boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants in its midst: Mayfair stalwart Pollen Street Social and Soho spot Social Eating House. At the latter, chef patron Paul Hood will be joined by Matt Gillan, the Great British Menu winning chef who earned a Michelin star while head chef at The Pass in Sussex. The pair will cook up an epic eight-course menu, with dishes including cured and confit trout with pickled cucumber and caviar, and Goosnargh duck with apricot and golden beetroot.


eveningstandard--2019-08-24--Youth charity partners with Sony Music to help vulnerable teens ahead of Notting Hill Carnival

A charity which helps steer vulnerable young people away from a life of crime is working with Sony Music UK to keep teenagers off the streets during the summer holidays.  The Young Urban Arts Foundation uses its Outreach Media Bus to teach music production skills to youngsters who are at risk of being groomed into crime.  Chart-topping artist and BBC Sound of 2017 winner RayBLK, who is Stormzy's cousin, visited the bus on Friday to highlight the charity’s important work ahead of Notting Hill Carnival.  Over the ﬁve-week summer break, the bus has worked six days per week to visit some of London’s most disadvantaged areas, including the Grahame Park Estate in Barnet and the new Barking Riverside development.  CEO Kerry O’Brien approached Sony CEO Jason Iley to work with the charity over the school break – one of the most important times of year for them to help keep young people off the streets, where they can be targeted by grooming gangs.  The charity’s founder, who is also an MC and won Best Female at the National Drum & Bass Awards, said there is now an “urgent need” for the charity’s work, amid a rise in serious violence across the capital.  She said: “The need for what we do has been building over the years, and now there’s a really urgent need for it – we have the bus and we want to go and keep young people safe.  “Young people have got the summer off school, and that’s when they’re vulnerable to gang grooming.  “We work with people from some of the most vulnerable backgrounds and the most deprived estates, and when they have nothing to do, that’s when they become vulnerable to gangs.  “When I say gangs, I’m talking about child exploitation groups – you’ve got children as young as eight or nine being groomed by children aged ten or 11, who’ve been trained by these groups for financial gain.  “It’s been getting worse since we got a Tory government in 2015 – all the councils lost their youth services, including youth clubs, and that has led to the increase in serious violence.”  Since it started ten years ago, the charity has helped more than 17,500 young people across the UK.  Ms O’Brien added: “The majority of these problems are because of government cuts, they have nowhere to learn and be kept safe like we did back in the 90s and 00s.  “Youth clubs supported and challenged us, and they also help build stronger mental health, which means they have a much lower chance of being picked up by gangs.  “We’re not just intervening, we actually go into places where problems are at risk of developing.  “We want to engage, educate and empower these young people so that as they get older and are approached by these grooming gangs, they’re more knowledgeable.  “Every area is different, so we have to try and understand the challenges, whether that’s violence or mental health.  “A lot of these young people have witnessed or experienced serious violence and they’re so traumatised – they’re in fear, they’re scared.  “They commit acts of violence out of fear, they don’t want to go out and carry knives or kill people.”  Ms O’Brien, who grew up in south east London, said she had a difficult upbringing, and wants to “show young people their potential,” as mentors once did for her.  She said: “I was one of those young people who went through that trauma.  “I have a fantastic mother but my dad was an alcoholic and an addict and he could be violent, it was something I witnessed and experienced frequently.  “I didn’t want to be at home so I went to find that sense of family elsewhere, and find my community.  “I was groomed into a gang because I thought they wanted to help me.  “My dad had given me the gift of music and I loved performing, I got such a high from being on stage and performing, and it was my music mentors who gave me that wake-up call – I could have been on my way to prison if it had carried on.  “They said it wasn’t who I was and took me under their wing. They showed me my potential and we want to do the same for these young people.”  RayBLK, who visited the bus on Friday, openly speaks about how music put her onto a better path.  The artist ﬁrst witnessed a gun at the age of 14, when she was at a party and two boys began to row about the volume of the music.  She said: “The youth are the future so we have to give them enough attention and support, so that they don’t make the same mistakes as the generation before.  “This is especially important in underprivileged areas, and why it’s important to me. I come from the same background as these kids.”


eveningstandard--2019-08-26--PhilosophyTube YouTube star set to raise 100000 for charity by livestreaming complete works of Sh

PhilosophyTube: YouTube star set to raise $100,000 for charity by livestreaming complete works of Shakespeare

A YouTuber and professional actor has raised almost $100,000 (£82,000) for charity in three days by reading the complete works of Shakespeare live online.  PhilosophyTube founder Olly Thorne, 26, began his ambitious fundraising feat on Friday, admitting it would be “gruelling and take several days.”  Taking place 24 hours a day, the “Shakespeare marathon” has so far featured full renditions of favourites including Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice, with other big titles still to come.  Olly’s current aim is to hit $100,000 in donations, which will go to emotional support charity Samaritans.  He told the Standard: “As someone who’s struggled with mental health issues, I wanted to use my platform to raise money for a cause I care about.  “Samaritans saved my life when I was considering suicide, so I wanted to give something back.”  The actor and self-styled “renegade philosopher” has broadcast each reading on live streaming platform Twitch, which is more commonly favoured by professional video game players.  “I didn’t think people would be so interested since Twitch is more for gamers, but the response so far has been amazing.”  The 26-year-old raised more than $93,608 (around £75,000) by Monday evening, with 13 hours to go until the end of the challenge.  “I thought we’d raise between $2,000 and $5,000 – nothing on this scale,” he said, explaining that the platform operates in dollars, which is why the amount is not shown in his native currency.  Asked why he chose the Bard as his fundraising muse, the drama school graduate said it was all to do with what it means to be human.  “I remember Judi Dench once saying ‘Shakespeare features every human emotion’ – or words to that effect.  “So I thought, if I act in every one of Shakespeare’s plays, I’ll have at least touched on a bit of everything.”  Olly has performed multiple roles in each play for the past three days, with only brief breaks in between.  But he has been joined by a number of eager participants, who have read other parts alongside him.  “I invited people on Twitter and my YouTube channel to message me if they wanted to join in and they have done. People from all over have stepped up.”  American actress Mara Wilson, best known for her leading roles as a child star in Matilda and Mrs Doubtfire, is among those to have lent their voices to the cause.  She took the iconic role of Lady Macbeth on Sunday night, he said.  The Royal Shakespeare Company has tweeted its support to Olly, calling his endeavours an "amazing achievement".  Samaritans said it was thrilled by his contribution, tweeting: The brilliant Olly @PhilosophyTube has been reading the complete works of Shakespeare round the clock to raise money for Samaritans, so we can be there for more people when they need us.  “He started on Friday and he’s still going. What a guy!”  Olly, who is originally from Newcastle but now lives in London, has more than 100,000 followers on Twitter and 483,000 on YouTube.  He said a 57-hour Donkey Kong stream by his friend Harry Brewis – and endorsed by US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – inspired his innovative fundraising attempt.  “Harry raised more than $340,000 (£278,000) for British transgender chairty Mermaids by Twitch-streaming himself gaming non-stop, I wanted to emulate that in my own way.  “Last month I did a YouTube video all about the philosophy of mind and mental health last month, and it got such a great reception.  “I realised I should try to do something similar again, but this time help others by raising money for a cause that really does save lives.”


eveningstandard--2019-09-11--Grayson Perry and Anthony Gormley among artists to donate works to London charity auction

Celebrated artists and photographers including Rankin, Grayson Perry, Sir Anthony Gormley and Mark Wallinger have donated works to be sold to support a charity helping seriously ill young adults.  The Extraordinary Collection will be showcased to the public at Coutts bank for five days before being auctioned in aid of Willow, which was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson.  Rankin submitted a brightly-coloured work of a model with a stuffed parrot, with Sir Anthony donating a beige figure work.  Proceeds will go to Willow, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year after providing almost 17,000 special days out to sick people in the past two decades.  Rankin told the Standard: “The concept of Willow is fantastic. And it is always good to be in good company of award-winning artists donating works for such a great cause.”  Wilson said: “We anticipate The Extraordinary Collection to be a momentous achievement in fundraising for Willow, and we are so grateful to each and every artist for their contribution.”  For more information about the public exhibition or attending the private auction visit 20for20.org


eveningstandard--2019-09-29--West Ham release limited edition pink shirt to raise funds for breast cancer charity

West Ham Women have released a limited-edition pink shirt that they will wear in October to raise awareness of breast cancer.  The Hammers have announced they will be swapping their traditional claret and blue colours for pink for every game next month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  West Ham players will wear the pink shirt for the first time during the warm-up for their landmark WSL game against Tottenham at the London Stadium on Sunday.  The club will be donating the entire profits from the sales of the pink shirts to Breast Cancer Now, one of the UK’s leading breast cancer charities for research and care.  Fans will be able to purchase the shirts via the club’s London Stadium store and online from Sunday.  West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said: “We are extremely proud to be standing side by side with Breast Cancer Now to ensure no one faces a breast cancer diagnosis alone.  “Breast Cancer Now are a fantastic charity, providing life-changing support that helps people cope with the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer. Together we believe can make even greater progress in tackling breast cancer so that research findings in the labs turn into new hope on the hospital wards and beyond.  “With that in mind, we were delighted that volunteers recently educated the women’s team at Rush Green through their experiences of breast cancer, as well as the signs and symptoms to look out for which, in turn, the women’s team will be continually helping to demonstrate to a wider audience.”  The limited-edition pink Umbro shirts will incorporate a label detailing the ways to check for potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer.  West Ham Women managing director Jack Sullivan said: “Any opportunity we have to use our status as a professional football club to highlight and raise awareness of important health issues we are keen to support.  “Our commitment to the partnership started last year when we wore t-shirts prior to a game, but this year we wanted to go one step further and we are thrilled to be launching this shirt before we play this historic fixture.  “The introduction of a new limited-edition shirt will allow for our support to be visual prior to the match, but our commitment to selling the shirts in our official stores and donating all of the profits to the charity shows our full backing for Breast Cancer Now and the incredible work they do."  Captain Gilly Flaherty added: "I hope all West Ham fans will back this great cause and come down to the game to show their support for our team but Breast Cancer Now and the partnership as well. It would be great to see fans in the same shirts as the team throughout October!”


eveningstandard--2019-11-08--Rylan Clark-Neal: Charity visit will motivate me during karaoke challenge

Rylan Clark-Neal has said his recent visit to a youth club in Essex will spur him on during his upcoming 24-hour charity challenge.  The presenter, 31, will be singing karaoke for 24 hours to raise money for BBC Children In Need.  Ahead of the challenge he visited a Triple T youth club, which is a weekly club provided by the Southend Association of Voluntary Services (Turning Tides).  He said: “It was amazing and do you know what, I didn’t actually think about this when I signed up to do this.  “I didn’t really think that I would need that, but actually visiting the project and meeting all the kids and volunteers and speaking to them and understanding how much this money impacts their lives, when I am sort of dying at four o’ clock in the morning trying to garble together a song I know what I’m doing it for now”.  During his visit he took part in some arts and crafts and also participated in a few games including Hungry Hippos and Dodgeball.  The Southend Association of Voluntary Services (Turning Tides) is one of the projects funded by Children in Need.  It benefits from a three-year grant to provide three weekly Triple T clubs for disadvantaged young people in Southend.  Radio 2 DJ Clark-Neal will also be joined by a few famous faces during his singing challenge.  The challenge follows a 24-hour danceathon done by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for Comic Relief last year, but Clark-Neal said he will not be asking them for advice.  He said: “My training is to forget about it because if I think about it too much… I remember I spoke to Tess and Claudia when they did the 24-hour danceathon for Comic Relief and they are two people I will not talk to about this because I know they will probably talk me out of it!”  The karaoke challenge begins at the end of the Zoe Ball Breakfast show 9am on November 12 and will take place at Radio 2’s studios in London.  It will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and streamed live on the BBC Red Button, where viewers will be able to see Clark-Neal and his guests performing.  The It Takes Two presenter added: “At the moment I have no idea what songs I’ll be singing, or who will be joining me on the day, or what outfits I’ll be wearing – I’m being kept in the dark for the moment and it’s all a surprise.  “But my go to karaoke song would have to be Craig David Fill Me In – so let’s hope that one comes up! My absolute dream karaoke duet partners would be all five of the Spice Girls, obviously – but to be honest I usually sing with whoever is willing to take me!”.


eveningstandard--2019-11-11--Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster put £1m target on menu for cancer charity

Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have promised “lots of little connections” to them at a charity evening for the Teenage Cancer Trust.  The couple have invited 180 guests to the Memories that Matter event in London and hope to raise as much as a £1 million. Billed as a private dinner party, they have designed the cocktails, drawn-up the menu and Stewart will perform live.  Model and photographer Lancaster, who has two sons with Stewart aged eight and 13, told the Evening Standard that teenagers often face lots of difficulties without the added trauma of cancer. She said: “Since our boy has just turned into a teenager he’s come along to a couple of charity events. You think teenagers are going through so much as it is... and the idea of having to deal with cancer on top as well — I could not think of anything worse.”  The night revolves around a silent auction with prizes including a trip to jewellery firm Swarovski’s HQ in the Austrian Alps and dinner at the Ritz with Rod and Penny. Other prizes include memorabilia from Celtic, Stewart’s favourite club, a print by his former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood and a five-night stay in a castle in Umbria, Italy, donated by Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev.  The fundraiser on November 22 is the idea of marketing expert Mark Aldridge, who plans to make it a regular event. The Trust’s chief executive Kate Collins said: “Every day, seven young people, aged 13-24, are diagnosed with cancer.  “Teenage Cancer Trust’s specialist nurses, hospital wards and support teams work hard to help young people and their families cope with the huge impact that a cancer diagnosis and treatment has on their lives. But none of this work would be possible without our wonderful supporters.”


eveningstandard--2019-11-11--Turnbull & Asser launch new Christmas gifting experience for Crisis charity

Recently opened on November 8, Turnbull & Asser’s Christmas gifting destination has collaborated with six other British brands and craftspeople.  The experience, running until Christmas Eve, is located in its Davies Street store, and will see 10 per cent of all profits donated to Crisis.  The shirtmaker, originally founded in 1885, is partnering with brands that ‘share the same values, craftsmanship and pride in British manufacturing’.  For the Davies Street gifting destination, the partnering brands include London-based jeweller Alice Made This, coffee company Climpson & Sons, luxury leather goods manufacturer Ettinger, textile artist Jo Elbourne, London Undercover umbrellas and men’s barbers, Pankhurst.  All of the partnering brands have donated some of their products to a luxury gift box which customers of the Turnbull & Friends Christmas Gift Shop will have the opportunity to win by entering a prize draw.  Crisis, the charity which is benefitting from the gifting experience, is one of the UK’s leading homeless aid charities. Founded in 1967, the charity offers one to-one support, advice and courses for homeless people across England, Scotland and Wales.  For more information, visit turnbullandasser.com and crisis.org.uk


eveningstandard--2019-11-13--Prince William marks 50 years of homeless charity Centrepoint with south London visit

The Duke of Cambridge today marked 50 years of the homeless charity Centrepoint with a visit to affordable housing for former homeless youngsters.  William, patron of the charity, visited the home in south London to learn first hand how the former homeless youngsters have been assisted to independent living.  The visit came ahead of the Centrepoint 50th anniversary gala to celebrate the charity at The Roundhouse, Camden.  The gala, where the prince will make a speech, will promote the achievements of individuals supported by Centrepoint, highlight the issues they face and encourage supporters to help change the story for homeless young people.  During two engagements William showcased Centrepoint, which provides homeless young people with accommodation, health support and life skills to get them back into education, training and employment.  Since starting out in the basement of St Anne's Church in 1969, the organisation has grown to become the UK's leading youth homelessness charity, supporting over 9,000 homeless young people a year.  William’s first visit of the day was at a new “Apprenticeship House” which aims to support young people who share living quarters.  As part of a wider programme developing housing solutions in London and Manchester to support young people moving on from supported accommodation and into work, the charity has transformed an existing building in south London into a seven-bed shared home for young people on apprenticeship programmes.  After chatting with the youngsters in private, William said: “You guys are the creme de la creme of what Centrepoint can achieve.”  Speaking to a number of employers who have taken on the apprentices, William said: “It is fantastic that employers like you are able to help these young people seize the chance for independent living.  “They are punching into the ether of society. Hostels are one thing but now they have somewhere to live and somewhere to work.”  Asked by one of the young people if he enjoyed the recent visit to Pakistan, William joked: “Apart from the near-death experience on the plane, it was amazing.”  Antonio Sibson, 20, from Leeds said: “It means the world to me having a place. The longest I’ve stayed is Centrepoint.  Mr Sibson, who has got a job with two other residents at Arros QD in Fitzrovia, added: “It’s great to have a wonderful house and a wonderful job. I can find a career and it’s given me hope for the future.”  Royal Ross, 21, Folkestone, said: “I grew up in care but this independent living programme has given me real hope for the next stage in my life.”