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Blind
gardeners to benefit from new national club
LAUNCH of Thrive's National Blind Gardeners' Club and Blind
Gardener of the Year 2006. A new National Blind Gardeners'
Club is launched this week by Thrive, the national charity that
uses gardening to improve the lives of disabled people and Royal
National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), supported by the Big Lottery
Fund.
The aim of the Club is to encourage more visually impaired people to
enjoy the benefits of gardening, help people share information and
techniques, and provide a national voice for blind and partially
sighted gardeners. Benefits of club membership include a
quarterly gardening magazine, advice, practical courses held across
the UK and a library of accessible information, including tactile
diagrams.
To mark the launch of the National Blind Gardeners' Club, Thrive is
announcing Blind Gardener of the Year 2006. Now in its second year,
this popular competition is designed to celebrate the enthusiasm,
skills and achievements of blind gardeners across the UK. The
categories range from inspirational and inventive gardeners to
wildlife enthusiasts and small space gardening. There is also a
section for young visually impaired gardeners of school or college
age.
"As a national charity which focuses on the needs of people
with a disability, we know from experience that gardening has a
valuable therapeutic benefit. Last year's Blind Gardener of the
Year awards showed the tremendous enthusiasm there is out there for
gardening, with stories of creativity and innovation. We are
looking forward to more inspirational entries this year which will
show just how important gardening is to many people's lives and
the enjoyment and confidence it can bring." says Nicola Carruthers, Chief
Executive of Thrive.
"I am delighted that RNIB are yet again involved in this
initiative. Last year's Blind Gardener of the
Year competition highlighted the importance of leisure in blind and
partially sighted people's lives. Gardening has proved to be an
activity that gives blind and partially sighted people a real sense
of wellbeing and self worth, and we welcome the launch of the
National Blind Gardeners' Club which will undoubtedly encourage many
more blind and partially sighted people to get involved in
gardening." said Eleanor Ellison, Principle Manager RNIB
Recreation and Wellbeing.
A distinguished panel of judges, including leading gardening writer
and broadcaster Pippa Greenwood, will combine their professional
expertise to select the winners of this year's competition. The
closing date for entries is Monday 31 July 2006 and the winners will
be announced in September 2006.
To find out more about Thrive's services for visually impaired
gardeners, the new National Blind Gardeners' Club or Blind Gardener
of the Year 2006, visit
www.thrive.org.uk.
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NSPCC
and ELC team up to distribute “Your Family” magazine
YOUR Family, the NSPCC magazine for parents, will now be
available free in Early Learning Centre (ELC) stores in Southport
from Monday 20 March, 2006.
Initially available from Woolworths and now in its second year, the
magazine offers a mix of fun, enjoyable read, useful readers’ tips
and expert advice. It has been a huge success with parents of young
children. A survey supporting the launch revealed that 1 in 6 were
desperate for parenting advice they could trust and were often
confused by the advice on offer.
The current issue features Cutting It actress Angela Griffin’s
account of motherhood. In her interview, Angela says:- ”You
think everyone else is doing better than you and that somehow you
are failing your child”. The issue also includes expert tips
on how to end broken sleep and what it’s like to be a step family.
It continues to draw on the NSPCC’s expertise to offer parents tips
and features on issues which are important to them.
Eileen Hayes, Your Family editor-in-chief and NSPCC parenting
advisor says:- “Your Family is for parents who may never think
of buying a book or who feel reluctant to ask for help. It gives
readers sound information without being preachy. Parents choose it
for an enjoyable read but find they have learned useful new tips to
try with their families.”
Mary Marsh, NSPCC Director says:- “Your Family is an excellent
way to reach parents and provide them with essential and helpful
advice and support. Your Family is now a key feature of the NSPCC’s
FULL STOP strategy.”
Tim Patten, Marketing Director ELC says:- ”Your Family is
great added value for our customers and helps to strengthen our
relationship with and commitment to the NSPCC.”
HELP
THE AGED LAUNCHES THE ‘HUG’ CREDIT CARD
TO APPLY call 0800 002 006
As part of the Charity’s Helping Unite Generations (Hug) campaign,
which aims to generate awareness and funds to help end loneliness
and isolation among older people, Help the Aged is launching the Hug
Credit Card which offers cardholders the opportunity to raise money
for Hug every time they spend, at no extra cost to themselves.
Help the Aged will receive £15 when consumers open a Hug Credit Card
account, a further £2.50 if they use their card within 6 months and
25p for every £100 they spend or transfer to their card after that
time. There are also lots of benefits to the cardholder
including 0% on purchase and balance transfers for 6 months and no
annual fee.
Mark Christopher, Help the Aged Credit Cards comments:- “The
Hug Credit Card adds a ‘feel-good factor’ element every time people
shop, knowing that they’re donating money to the campaign’s really
worthwhile cause to help end loneliness and isolation among older
people.”
Money raised by the Hug Credit Card on behalf of the Hug campaign
will enable Help the Aged to continue to support services that allow
older people to live independently and help them feel less alone.
This includes SeniorLink, the Charity’s 24 hour telephone service
for use in emergencies or just simply for a chat when needed, and
the community transport scheme, SeniorMobility, which gets older
people to community centres to meet friends and engage in
activities.
To apply for a Hug Credit Card call 0800 002 006 or visit
allhug.org.uk and click on ‘Hug Month’
within the ‘Get Involved’ section on the website.
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