February is National Heart Month and our Love Notes fundraising campaign offers romantics a chance to declare their true love in front of thousands.

Anyone can write a Love Note to display in our Shop windows between the 16 January and the 14 February for a suggested donation of £1. And Land Securities are giving one lucky lady the opportunity to propose via London’s Piccadilly Lights on Wednesday 29 February.

Your proposal up in lights.  To enter email proposal@bhf.org.uk and tell us why your partner is the love of your life (in 200 words) and send a picture of the pair of you together. Don’t forget to include your full name, address and telephone number.

The winner will be selected on Valentine’s Day and we will contact them on the 15th February.

Valentine’s prize.  To help you propose and celebrate in style, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels are also donating an all expenses paid Valentine’s prize. The winner will receive a romantic night’s stay at the Millennium Hotel in London’s Mayfair with: full English breakfast, a bottle of sparkling wine, strawberries and complementary late check out

And to complete a great day, Madison Restaurant Bar & Cafe on the sixth floor roof terrace at One New Change will be offering a dinner and Valentine’s Hamper to the lucky couple as well.

Write a Love Note.  Find your local BHF Shop to write a Love Note and enter our once in a lifetime competition.

Have a heart this February and Support the British Heart Foundation with an ongoing donation from your pay.

CLIC Sargent

The Government is now backing amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill, halving the time seriously ill or disabled people would have had to wait to be eligible for Personal Independence Payment. CLIC Sargent supported the amendments, along with other members of the Disability Benefits Consortium, to reverse proposals that would have increased the qualifying period for the new benefit, replacing Disability Living Allowance, from three to six months.
CLIC Sargent Chief Executive Lorraine Clifton said: “This is great news for young people with cancer. They need financial support with the extra expenses they face as soon as possible after diagnosis – not six months later. We’ve campaigned long and hard on this issue and we’re delighted the Government has listened.

“This will mean that fewer young people, who are already struggling financially, will face impossible choices about whether they can afford basic essentials like food and heating, which are vital to their recovery.”

Support the work of CLIC Sargent with an ongoing donation from your pay.

Many families are becoming desperate and thousands more are at risk. 

Save the Children is already on the ground, urgently working to reach vulnerable families before it’s too late. 

We’ve already reached over 500,000 vulnerable children and adults. We are:

• Helping to buy essential food, water and medicine for over 250,000 people and have treated 40,000 malnourished children
• Supporting over 260 health centres so thousands of children, pregnant women and new mothers can access free healthcare
• Distributing livestock and training in farming methods to create ‘safety nets’ to stop families falling into crisis
• Calling on the international community to respond immediately to help stave off a potential disaster

Firdaoussi, 19 months old, at the stabilisation centre for malnourished children at Aguié, Niger. A lack of protein and other essential nutrients is causing severe swelling and painful blistering to the skin. In 2010 crop failures, due to a lack of rains, and an increase in food prices have left many families unable to grow or buy enough food. The food crisis left thousands of children with severe malnutrition.

The international community was slow to act in East Africa, and thousands of children are now paying the price. We must learn from our mistakes. Early warning signs are again signalling a looming food crisis – this time in Niger.

These early warning signs must result in an early response. Save the Children is already on the ground, urgently working to reach vulnerable families before it’s too late. We are also calling on the international community to immediately scale up support for Niger – to enable aid agencies and the government of Niger to stave off a potential disaster.

Support the work of Save the Children in Niger and across the globe with an ongoing donation from your pay.

St Mungo’s

In London, St Mungo’s outreach teams in Westminster, Southwark and Ealing are redoubling efforts to bring rough sleepers off the streets and in from the cold, tracking down new referrals and asking the public to let outreach teams know if they are concerned about anyone who is rough sleeping, Similar outreach activity is happening in Bristol and Reading.

When the weather is predicted to drop below zero degrees centigrade for three consecutive nights, local boroughs activate what is called Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP).

St Mungo’s works with local partners to provide emergency provision for those who could die if left on the streets. Homeless men and women are supported inside and offered a hot shower, clean clothes, and hot food as well as a bed, while St Mungo’s staff work to find them more permanent accommodation.

Mike McCall, Executive Director of Operations at St Mungo’s, said: “SWEP beds offer a vital life line for the extremely vulnerable living on the streets during these freezing nights. As temperatures drop, there is a real danger that people will lose their lives if they sleep outside.

“Our workers will be out on the streets, making contact with rough sleepers who really need a roof over their head. We are committed with our partners in the voluntary sector, central and local government to making sure that no one is out in such cold weather.”

Please suport St Mungo’s with an ongoing donation from your pay.

Its the last day to win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett!

Start 2012 as you mean to go on, full of bounce, vim and vigour!  Our friends at Holland & Barrett have kindly donated a fantastic Well Being Hamper stuffed with stuff that is good for you!

The hamper will have everything you need to kick start 2012 with a selection of general health and well being products like multi-vitamins, cod liver oil etc as well as dried fruits, nuts and seeds.

Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay, fill in the form online and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!

Already giving to charity via pay?  Then as a thank you, we would be happy to include you in this prize draw, simply email your name/ employer name and a contact number to info@workplacegiving-uk.co.uk.  Please note we will need to have received your details by email before Tuesday 31^st January 2012

The offer is valid for every employee who signs up online to give to charity from their pay until midnight on Tuesday 31^st January 2012

The centre’s out-of-date kennels and public facilities will be rebuilt and existing structures will be refurbished and improved with sustainability in mind.

Dogs Trust Ilfracombe Manager, Pam Stow, comments:“We are delighted that the centre is being rebuilt as it will mean such a difference to the dogs, staff and visitors. We may be a little untidy for a while, but the rehoming centre will continue to welcome visitors wanting to rehome  dogs and will be rebuilt in phases to ensure minimal disruption. So, please do continue to come along and  support us.”

At present, the Rehoming Centre has 46 kennels, 20 of which are in two out-dated ‘line’ blocks and 22 are in two parasol blocks, which were built between 1989 and 1996. All were constructed under very different budgetary constraints and without the knowledge of animal behaviour, and proven stress-reduction design which now exist. 

Dogs Trust Property Director, Matt Taylor, explains: “The last 10 years of research, design development and advances in behavioural knowledge have resulted in significant changes and improvements to the design and construction of Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres across the UK. The driving force behind the design improvements is the desire to constantly improve the environment for the dogs in our care. Happier dogs results in them being easier to handle and ultimately to re-home. As we have a non destruction policy, this is a priority for us. ”

Dogs Trust is committed to reducing its “carbon pawprint” and endeavour to use renewable energy resources where possible. Plans include:

• Photovoltaic panels on roofs
• High level insulation
• Underfloor heating in kennels
• Glass fronted, angled rehoming kennels
• Best use of natural daylight
• Reuse of existing developed land and buildings

Anyone wanting to rehomed a dog should visit the rehoming centre at Hazledene, West Down, Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 8NU or call 01271 812 709.

Support the work of the Dogs Trust with an ongong donation from your pay.

Happy New Year, Happy New You!   Win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett! Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay before 31st January and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!

A frightening bout of meningitis led to Ella’s deafness but NDCS were there to help.

After a perfect wedding and holiday in Cyprus, Sarah and Simon Morris and their daughter Ella, were thrown into turmoil when a seemingly innocent fever rapidly progressed to meningitis, leaving the 14-month-old fighting for her life.

After two weeks of anguish for her family, Ella had made what appeared to be a full recovery and went home.  But Sarah realised that Ella was not hearing properly and could no longer speak words that she had learnt just a few weeks before, returning to baby noises.  “It was heartbreaking”, says Sarah.

The results of hearing tests confirmed Sarah and Simon’s worst fears; Ella was profoundly deaf in her right ear and had mild to moderate hearing loss in her left ear, which would need a hearing aid.  “We tried to be positive, recognising that hearing aids would improve things.”

Amongst the information from the audiologist was a leaflet from NDCS.  They soon got in touch and began to make contact with other parents of deaf children and receive advice from NDCS professionals.  “We’ve found NDCS incredibly helpful.  We go on the website a lot, especially the parent’s forum, and learn so much by reading about other families experiences.”

Ella, now three, wears a hearing aid in her left ear and her parents have noticed she is also lip-reading.  Earlier this year, the family went to a NDCS weekend for newly identified deaf children.

Support the work of Childlife with an ongoing donation from your pay.

Happy New Year, Happy New You!   Win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett! Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay before 31st January and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!

Charlie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October 2009 and has been having chemotherapy treatment for two years – he still has another year left. The treatment has made him very poorly; he contracted Swine Flu, lost a lot of weight and his hair, picked up lots of infections and was generally very weak. His mobility subsequently got worse and he has had to learn how to walk again.

Charlie, who chose his wish because he loves jumping off his parent’s furniture pretending to be a superhero, started his day in style; he was picked up in a limo from his home in Doncaster and taken to a nearby hotel, where he met… Spiderman!

Rebecca said: “When he saw Spiderman he just stopped, he couldn’t believe it was him – he looked so real!”

Then the fun really began – because Rebecca was kidnapped by Venom! Charlie and Spiderman had to chase Venom around the hotel and through the ground, before Charlie finally managed to catch him with the help of his web gun!

Rebecca said: “My favourite part was seeing his face. He kept saying ‘I’ll protect you from the bad guys’. Getting Venom was his favourite part; he was so proud of himself!”

Finally, to bring his day to an end in style, Charlie was awarded his very own ‘Honorary Spiderman’ certificate!

Support Make-A-Wish with a monthly donation from your pay.

Happy New Year, Happy New You!   Win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett! Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay before 31st January and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!

Last few days to Win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett!

Start 2012 as you mean to go on, full of bounce, vim and vigour!  Our friends at Holland & Barrett have kindly donated a fantastic Well Being Hamper stuffed with stuff that is good for you!

The hamper will have everything you need to kick start 2012 with a selection of general health and well being products like multi-vitamins, cod liver oil etc as well as dried fruits, nuts and seeds.

Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay, fill in the form online and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!

Already giving to charity via pay?  Then as a thank you, we would be happy to include you in this prize draw, simply email your name/ employer name and a contact number to info@workplacegiving-uk.co.uk.  Please note we will need to have received your details by email before Tuesday 31^st January 2012

The offer is valid for every employee who signs up online to give to charity from their pay until midnight on Tuesday 31^st January 2012

Children gain an awful lot from characters in stories; they look up to them, identify with them and aspire to be like them, and it’s a huge part of developing the imagination and learning about themselves and society.

Unfortunately, the number of impairments portrayed in children’s stories are few and far between, and disabled children often feel excluded and cannot relate to the characters in their books. 

With the help of disabled children, Scope has created an amazing range of books to help a child understand their condition and build their confidence for the future. The books feature disabled children and explain a child’s condition in their own language.

Celine is one of the children who helped Scope with this project. She has cerebral palsy and needs assistance to be able to walk. When she was six years old, she helped Scope to develop Celine’s New Splints – a fictional story-book leaflet designed for disabled children to read themselves, or for parents to read to their child. The leaflet explains the process of being fitted for splints in a way that young children can appreciate, enjoy and understand.

Celine explains: “When I was little and I had my first splints I was quite scared because I didn’t know what it was going to be like.  Celine’s New Splints lets children know what is going to happen and hopefully they don’t feel scared anymore. I loved helping to write Celine’s New Splints.  You don’t see many disabled children in books and I’m really proud that I helped change that.”

You can download the books and share with children you know by going here: http://www.scope.org.uk/help-and-information/publications/celines-new-splints-booklet

Thank you for your generous support of our work and for helping us continue to make the world a more inclusive place for disabled children.

Support the work of Scope with an ongoing donation from your pay.

Happy New Year, Happy New You!   Win a £250 Well Being Hamper from Holland & Barrett! Simply choose a charity you wish to donate to regularly from your pay before 31st January and we will enter you into our prize draw to win this great prize!