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Young
homeless charity runners in St Helens Corporate Cup
STAFF and young people from the Merseyside Accommodation
Project (MAP) are taking part in the forthcoming St Helens Corporate
Cup on Sunday 28 May. MAP, which is part of the charitable
organisation Local Solutions, supports homeless teenagers, aged 16
and 17, in Merseyside.
Marie Hardman, MAP support worker said:- “the young people
decided that they would like to take part in the Corporate Cup,
which would enable them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. They also
thought it would be an excellent idea to donate all proceeds towards
a social activities fund for young homeless people at the project.”
This will be the 8th running of the St Helens event, although the
first time it’s moved to a weekend. It will start at 11am and is
using the attractive course around the 150 acres of Sherdley Park
that has proved popular amongst the runners over the previous few
years, with the finish in the athletics track at Sutton Community
Leisure Centre. The Corporate Cup is open to both runners and
walkers. All members of the community are encouraged to take part,
from businesses, hospital and council staff to friends and family,
social clubs and pub team entries as part of a team of 4.
MAP is unique in the fact that it provides accommodation in a ‘family
style’ environment with registered householders, who have
offered a spare room within their own homes. The ultimate aim of the
project is to prepare each individual with the skills to cope
independently in their own accommodation. Many of the young people
have gone on to gain employment, or to University or college, some
have even reconciled with their own families and returned home.
The team for St Helens consists of Tony Smith, Sue Shelley, Tracey
Regan and Kerry Roach from the Sefton group. Other members of MAP
will be taking part in the other Corporate Cups, which include
Knowsley and Liverpool.
Entry forms for the Corporate Cup are available by contacting
Pennine Events on 01695 682020, email
Alison@pennineevents.co.uk or downloading from
pennineevents.co.uk. Runners can also enter
online at
sendentry.com.
The event is organised by Healthstart / Pennine Events Ltd on behalf
of St Helen’s PCT.
Calling new bands from Mersey & Southport!
PRS, the Performing Right Society, is once again offering
local bands the chance to perform in front of Edinburgh Festival
crowds as part of Fringe Sunday.
On 13 August 2006, the PRS New Music Stage will feature a packed
line-up of new musical talent from across the UK. And with music
industry A&R staff attending, that first big break might not be too
far away.
An application form for the UK-wide talent search can be downloaded
from
www.prs.co.uk/fringe,
with all entries to be with PRS by 2 June.
Jo Prowse of PRS says:- "PRS is all about creating a future
for music. The royalties we collect for bands often mean all the
difference to them; particularly at the start of their careers. And
here’s another great way for new bands to get a lift. We had a great
response from Mersey and Southport last year and we’re looking
forward to receiving more of your demos this year."
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Paul
O'Grady supports 'sadly neglected' older heroes
TV PRESENTER and former social worker Paul O'Grady has called
for more recognition for older volunteers and has offered his
congratulations to members of CSV's Retired and Senior Volunteer
Programme (RSVP) being presented with awards by foreign diplomats
next week.
Paul, who has used his own show to raise the profile of the work of
older volunteers, says:- "I think that volunteers are sadly
neglected in this country. They do sterling work and should be
rewarded more for the important role they play. Volunteers taking
care of lonely and isolated people are literally keeping thousands
of people going. I think it's fantastic that RSVP volunteers are
being honoured for their commitment. Keep up the good work!"
At a ceremony at Dover House, Whitehall, the Ambassador of Moldova
and the High Commissioner for Ghana will honour two British RSVP
volunteers for making a significant contribution to their countries.
Amongst those being thanked include a 68 year old from Swansea who
was made an honorary chief in Ghana for helping children and a
knitting volunteer from Stirling who distributes knitted toys and
clothes to orphanages and hospitals in Moldova.
Older Volunteers being honoured at the ceremony include:
David Howells, aged 68 and from Swansea, is a RSVP volunteer reader
at his local primary school and was made an honorary chief after
spending eight weeks teaching children and raising £4,500 to help
build the country's first primary school library in the capital,
Accra. David will meet the High Commissioner for Ghana, Isaac Osei.
David, a former industrial chemist who was given the title Nii Kwa
Botswe (the first) by the Ga people of Ghana and who will be wearing
his ceremonial robes on the night, says:- "I volunteer to help
children learn English and Welsh in schools in Swansea and I was
amazed at the standard of spelling in Ghana. Despite the lack of
facilities at the school, I met seven year olds able to spell-out
complicated English words like 'palanquin'. Being a chief
comes with responsibilities and each year I am expected to return to
my new 'home' and help determine decisions on social
development for the tribe."
Chrissie Morrison aged 52 is a RSVP volunteer knitter from Stirling,
Scotland who regularly visits the former Soviet republic of Moldova
to deliver knitted toys and clothes to orphanages and hospitals. She
is also hoping to do a sponsored bicycle ride from Stirling to
London. Chrissie will be meeting the Moldovan Ambassador Mariana
Durlesteanu.
Doreen Beaumont, aged 76 from Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, sailed for
9 days between Portsmouth and Bilbao as a crew member on the
Tenacious, a tall ship especially built so that it can be crewed by
people with disabilities as well as able bodied people. Doreen took
part in memory of her daughter and to raise money for the Mission
for Sailors.
Doreen, who volunteers with the RSVP Evergreen Club, which brings
together 30 isolated older people each month in the Fishguard area,
says:- "I was a wee bit nervous setting off on the ship and
was worried that I might not be accepted as I was the oldest but I
proved that I could keep up with the rest of them and even climbed
the mast. I enjoyed the thrill of sailing, and it is something
absolutely different to my hum drum life. As long as you don't get
too seasick I would recommend it to anyone."
Anna Blackmore, aged 50 from Notting Hill, London. Anna, who with
virtually no climbing experience, raised £9,000 for RSVP by climbing
Mont Blanc and was only prevented from scaling the last 100 meters
to the summit due to dangerous weather conditions. Anna says:-
"I wanted to raise money for RSVP because I think it is
important to recognise the skills of older people and to keep them
active and engaged in life."
An incredible 5 million over-50s take part in unpaid work each year.
Volunteers assisting patients in GP surgeries are cutting patient
prescriptions by 30% and volunteers in primary schools are helping
to raise the reading age of children. Research also shows that
volunteering can benefit older volunteers in many ways, including
making new friends, gaining self confidence and living healthier
lives. 51% of over 65s say volunteering has improved their health
and fitness and 62% of over 65s say volunteering helps reduce
stress.
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