Barnardo’s wants your pre-loved teddies

Floella Benjamin - the 1980’s children’s TV favourite - is asking children across the UK to get ready with the teddies and help to change other children’s lives.
Floella is supporting Barnardo’s new Spring campaign by asking children and parents to dig deep into their toy boxes and donate their pre-loved teddies they no longer play with. The bears will be sold at Barnardo’s 390 shops across the country in a bid to raise cash for the thousands of vulnerable children and young people the charity supports.
As well as pre-loved teddies, the charity can also breathe a new lease of life into unwanted presents that children have received and have been consigned to the back of the cupboard or bottom of the toy box.
By donating quality unwanted toys for Barnardo’s to sell, everyone can help the charity carry on its vital work across the UK at the same time as giving other children the chance to buy that special toy.
Barnardo’s shops also need donations of quality men’s and women’s clothing, books, CDs and DVDs, bric-a-brac and furniture. For details of your local store, please go to www.barnardos.org.uk

North West Midlands Mail Centre

They are running a Bag it up appeal until the  end of March.

So far nearly 40 bags collected here at the NWMMC with support from Birmingham, Tamworth, Atherstone, Matlock & Northampton. If each bag is worth approx £10 each that’s £400 in goods donated (if not more).

 Bag it up is a scheme where people donate unwanted household goods/clothes/dvd's/books..

These are then distributed to Barnardo's stores for onward sale.
 
Sid Sandhu Late Shift 'The Scheme has  been really well received by the staff here at the North West Midlands Mail Centre who think it is a great way to get rid of unwanted items cluttering up your house whilst being able to help Barnardo's at the same time -  a real win win situation' 

Resourcing Team, Exeter Mail Centre

Janet Myers decided to run a cake stall for Barnardos in the Mail Centre at Exeter.  She persuaded the Manager of Quadrant to give over a few tables in the staff restaurant on Friday 12th March. 

 She then started a campaign to enlist 'volunteers' to donate home baked cakes.
Help was received from Peter Holland, Business Customer Advisor and Nikki Smith,  IR/ER Advisor, both based at Exeter. 

 Peter designed and printed posters advertising the event and Nikki helped with the organisation and provided some lovely home made cakes. 

When the event started at 08.30am, the table was groaning with the amount of home baked goodies, shortbread, apple cake, a huge chocolate sponge, banana cake, muffins, cookies etc., but by 5pm it was completely sold out, only a few crumbs remained.

The total amount raised was £176.22 and RM will match that.The staff were very impressed "this is great, can we do it every Friday"


 "This looks so lovely, I am going to ignore my diet" but the clincher was from my son, Alex.  "Which cake did you make Mum; I will buy it all so no-one has to suffer!" Janet Myers

Star People Resourcing Team, North East England

The team had such a great day at the Barnardo's shop in Driffield. They planned to revamp 3 rooms, the staff toilet, staff rest room and staff office and all tasks were fully completed on the day and looked great when they had finished.

The shop manager, Tracey Harrison, was delighted with their work and some of the volunteers, who give their time so freely to the charity, were visibly moved and emotional when they saw what had been done for them.

‘It is the shop's 25th anniversary this year and to be able to show some recognition to the unsung heroes who have kept it going this long was a pleasure’ .Lesley Beverley

Believe in Children month

Coming soon – Believe in Children month is now in September.  There will be packs send to each site on how you can get involved and show that you site really ‘Believes in Children’

So start thinking how your site can get involved – turn yourself or your site green to show your support, organise a raffle or even a green food day!

Barnardo’s at The Virgin London Marathon 2010

Taking place on Sunday 25th April, Barnardo’s will have a team of nearly 200 runners tackling the course to raise money for their vital work with disadvantaged children across the U.K www.barnardos.org.uk. To encourage and support the runners it is essential that they have a large team of volunteers based along the course cheering them on! The atmosphere on the day is electric – this really is a fantastic experience to be part of!  
Volunteers will be positioned at one of our cheering stations to support our dedicated runners as they take on the gruelling 26.2 mile route around London. You will be required at a time slot between 9am -4pm on the day, even if you can only do a couple of hours we would be very grateful.  
You will receive full details before the event, refreshments will be provided on the day and reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed if required (when travelling close to London).

How about a decorating challenge for one of Barnardo’s Care Leavers flats in London?

There is a challenge for up to 10 people to help in several Care Leavers flats.  The team challenges range from gardening challenges to painting and decorating assistance. 

Could you roll your sleeves up and help us with a gardening challenge in Oxfordshire?

The Resource centre in Oxfordshire would love to set up a few vegetable patches in their garden.  Could you help lay the beds and by planting some plants in preparation for the Summer? 

There is also Fostering service in Scotland that would like to clear up in their garden area.

Could you help us with some painting and decorating in Derbyshire?

Barnardo’s Family Support service in Derbyshire would really appreciate your help with painting some rooms at the centre.  Or could you help us with some DIY work?

Could you help us organise a ‘Thank You’ party for Barnardo’s volunteers in Birmingham?

Our challenge to you would be to organise an event to thank the volunteers, most have young children using the services at the Barnardo’s family project in South West Birmingham.

Cairngorm Challenge

Applications for the 2010 Cairngorm Challenge are now open. Taking place on 11 September 2010 in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, teams can complete one of three hike and bike routes, choosing the level of difficulty from the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Those who sign up before 30 April benefit from a discount of 25% on the registration fee. For more information and to sign up, see the website – www.barnardos.org.uk/CairngormChallenge