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Will you be taking part in
the Circle The City sponsored walk?
ON Saturday, 25 April 2015, Liverpool
will experience its 1st ever Circle The City sponsored walk. The Christian Aid
led event, which coincides with the charity's 70th Anniversary, promises to be a
fun filled affair, featuring activities for all of the family.
The 4.5 mile circular walk, launching for the 1st time this year, takes in some
of Liverpool's historic sites, places of worship, pop up exhibitions, and music.
The walk will start with an organ recital in the Lady Chapel of the Anglican
Cathedral, at 10am.
Andy Unwin, Christian Aid Volunteer who helped to plan the walk, said:-
"This promises to be a really exciting day out for everyone, with loads to see
and do."
Walkers will be given a brochure which comprises a route map, directions, and
information about several pinpointed locations on the walk. There are nine
checkpoints at which participants are encouraged to have their brochure stamped
by a Christian Aid steward.
The route incorporates many of Liverpool's landmarks, including:- the 2
Cathedrals, St John's Gardens, the Slavery Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the
Chinatown Arches. At St Luke's church, which was bombed during WWII, walkers can
take part in an Ethiopian Craft Making session with Christian Aid's Collective
Intern.
In addition to exploring the city sites, there are several organised elements to
the sponsored walk: a photographic exhibition is on display at St Nicholas'
Parish Church, showing some of the work Christian Aid has been doing in Haiti
since the devastating earthquake in 2010; a local jazz band will be playing at
St Luke's; and to top it all off, a face painting station and treasure hunt have
been organised for the younger participants.
At 3 of the check points, the Christian Aid brochure invites walkers to take a
selfie, using their phones or cameras to record their progress and create
memories of the day. The final checkpoint on the walk will close at 3.30pm.
Tea and coffee will be available on the route, toilets are accessible at most
venues, and the walk is wheelchair user friendly, with checkpoint stewards on
hand to guide participants to step-free access.
Circle the City promises to be an enjoyable day out, and a great way to explore
Liverpool. Taking part and receiving sponsorship for the walk will help some of
the world's poorest to find freedom from poverty. Registration for the sponsored
walk is free, and no minimum sponsorship is required. To register your place, as
a group or individual, email:-
warrington@christian-aid.org.
To find out more about Christian Aid's activates follow them on
Twitter and also for more information
about the work of Christian Aid does and to donate, visit:-
ChristianAid.Org.UK.
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Till debt do us part
AFTER decades of the number of deaths
in the UK falling, 2015 will mark a "tipping point" where the historic
trend starts to reverse; as the oldest of the babyboomer generation move through
their later years deaths are predicted to rise by 20%.
This trend reversal will have significant implications for current forecasts of
funeral costs and highlights a growing need for families to broach the delicate
subject of end of life expenses.
The findings form part of a new report commissioned by mutual, OneFamily, which
incorporates Family Investments and Engage Mutual, and undertaken by the
International Longevity Centre; UK (ILC-UK).
The report:- "The funeral time bomb", will be available from 20 April 2015 and
reveals:-
Funeral costs are already soaring in the UK with the cost of a simple funeral
increasing by 80% between 2004 and 2014.
With deaths predicted to rise, increasing
pressure on funeral services is likely to push prices even higher: ILC-UK
predicts that funeral costs could reach or exceed £7,000 by 2020, with the cost
of a simple funeral projected to rise to £5,226 by 2020.
Aggregate spending on funerals in the UK could
rise to £3.7bn by 2020 (up from £2.8 bn. in 2014).
Funeral debt (where money has been borrowed to
cover the cost of a funeral) in the UK could reach a quarter of a billion in
less than 20 years
The report highlights a growing need for
families to come together and plan ahead for funeral expenses. It reveals that
an estimated 109,000 UK adults incurred funeral debt in 2013 with the average
standing at £1,305 per person.
In total, funeral debts incurred during 2013 equated to £142m and the ILC-UK
calculates that based on current trends, the total UK funeral debt could reach a
quarter of a billion by the mid-2030s: an increase of 76%.
The figures could have a significant impact on families who are already under
financial pressure. At present, 14.5 million families would not be able to pay
for a funeral at short notice unless the deceased had taken out some form of
funeral provision, such as life cover, to help towards the costs.
Baroness Sally Greengross, Chief Executive of ILC-UK, said:- "More than
half of UK households have less than £3,000 in savings and many will struggle to
cover funeral costs. We all need to talk more about dying and ensure we are
prepared for the inevitable. State support for funerals is complex and
inadequate and without reforms will contribute to more people falling victim to
funeral debt."
Simon Markey, CEO of mutual OneFamily, which helps around 1 in 12 of all UK
families to support one another financially, said:- "Our own research
shows us that families are coming together more and more to help one another
financially. Nearly half of UK adults who have provided family members with
assistance have done so to help them to cover day to day expenses. This report
reveals a need for families to look to the future too. While the subject
of end of life expenses can be a very delicate one to discuss, the findings
highlight how starting this conversation could help avoid leaving loved ones
with unexpected debts they may find difficult to manage."
22% of those who have arranged a funeral in the past 5 years had to do it
without financial provision having been made by the deceased. Government Funeral
Payments have not kept up with rises in funeral costs and in 2012 the average
amount awarded represented just 37% of the costs of a simple funeral.
The report argues that borrowing costs are unaffordable for many and that there
is an urgent need for more support and greater pre-planning.
'The funeral time bomb' is free to download from:-
EngageMutual.com
and
ILC-UK.Org.UK from Monday, 20 April 2015. |
