The British Heart Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals wanting to fund extra research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart and circulatory disease.

Today the BHF is the nation’s heart charity. Their vision is a world where people don’t die prematurely from heart disease. They fund pioneering research, vital prevention activity and ensure that those with heart disease have care and support.

One example of their groundbreaking and crucially important work is the Mending Broken Hearts appeal. At the moment, there’s no cure for a broken heart. Once your heart muscle is damaged by a heart attack, it can never fully recover. But there is hope. They believe that with £50 million of funding for research, we could begin to see these hearts mended in as little as ten years time, giving hope to thousands of people across the UK.

For more information and to get involved be sure to visit the British Heart Foundation’s website and Facebook page

WaterAid is an international non governmental organisation, and its mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.

WaterAid transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. They work with partners and influence decision-makers to maximise impact.

They enable the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water and sanitation. Together with improved hygiene, these basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods, forming the first essential step in overcoming poverty. Working with local partners, they provide them with the skills and support to help communities set up and manage practical and sustainable projects that meet their real needs.

For more information visit their website and don’t forget you can earn Blue Dots by promoting them on Facebook

X Factor angers Brighton charity over Rhythmix band

From: BBC News

A music charity for vulnerable children is taking legal advice after a girl band on the TV show X Factor started using the same name.

The group Rhythmix were put together after entering the show as four soloists and are in the final 16 acts.

Brighton-based charity Rhythmix, which has been operating in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, fears it will cause confusion.

X Factor said there was no conflict because the charity used the name for educational purposes only.

Rhythmix charity, which receives National Lottery funding, has 50 musicians who have worked with 40,000 young people through youth support services.

It said it wanted to make it clear there was no connection between the charity and the TV show or the band and was discussing with lawyers how to resolve the matter.

“We contacted them (X Factor) on Sunday to say ‘do you realise that this is the name of a music education charity working with vulnerable young people?’” said consultant Lucy Stone.

Trademarks checked

“We are just asking them to stop and think about what they are doing and what impact they are going to have on a charity at such an already really challenging financial time.

“Their response was, ‘Get a lawyer’.”

Media lawyer Paul Gilbert said X Factor was being “a bit disingenuous”.

“I think they could at least make some statement to make it clear the distinction between the two and to support the charity in the good work they are doing,” he said.

An X Factor spokesman said it checked all band names for trademarks once they were selected for the live shows and it was aware of the charity.

“The charity in question have trademarked the name Rhythmix for educational purposes only, which is not in conflict with the band or the show,” it said.

From: The Mail Online

And for your first duty Mr Hurley: Shane Warne plays dutiful fiancé as he joins Liz at Estee Lauder charity event

They’ve only been engaged a matter of days, but it looks like Shane Warne is fitting into the role of dutiful fiancé very nicely.

In his dapper suit and pink tie, the cricketer, 42, complemented his future wife Elizabeth Hurley perfectly as she hosted a breast cancer charity event in Edinburgh.

The metrosexual Australian proudly stood back as the Austin Powers actress spoke about Estee Lauder’s fundraising campaign at the Jenners department store.

World Arthritis Day is held every year on the 12th October with an aim to raise awareness of the issues affecting people with arthritis.World Arthritis Day logo

To celebrate the day, we’re encouraging Arthritis Research UK supporters to Go Orange for Arthritis and raise vital funds to help us carry out our world-class research . You can help make World Arthritis Day a day to truly remember, whilst having lots of fun!

There are so many ways that you can raise money for us, here are just a few ideas (many orange themed!) to get you going:

at home
• Shower in orange juice
• Take a bath in baked beans
• Wear a fake tan!
• Turn into a Umpa-Lumpa!

at work
• Go orange day or dress down day
• Dye your hair orange (or wear an orange wig!)
• Office Olympics – speed typing, bin basketball etc
• Put a swear box in the office

at school
• Guess how many orange Tic Tac’s or Wine Gum’s are in a jar
• Paint your face orange
• Teachers vs. pupils quiz

in your local community group
• Bake orange cakes and hold a coffee morning
• Organise an orange themed fashion show

with friends and family
• Hold a karaoke night
• Stage a retro indoor games competition – Ker plunk, Connect 4……

However you decide to fundraise, we can guarantee that every pound you raise will directly help improve the lives of the 10 million people affected by arthritis in the UK.

Click here for more information on World Arthritis Day and to find out more about Arthritis Research UK visit their  Website and Facebook page

The Big Issue exists to offer homeless and vulnerably housed people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income. Thet produce a weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine which vendors buy from us for £1 and sell to the public for £2, keeping £1 for themselves. Vendors must adhere to a code of conduct whilst selling the magazine.

They believe in offering ‘a hand up, not a hand out’, but also recognise that earning an income is the first step on the journey away from homelessness. The Big Issue Foundation is a registered charity which exists to link vendors with the vital support which will help them address the issues which have led to their homelessness. The Foundation works exclusively with vendors, offering support, advice and referrals.

Just click on our homepage buttons to support the Big Issue Foundation or any other charity. Making a difference has never been easier or more rewarding!

For more information visit The Big Issue Foundation’s Website

Thousands sink a cuppa for charity

From: The Worcerster Standard

HUNDREDS of biscuits were dunked and gallons of tea and coffee drunk as people across the county got the kettle on for charity. More than 600 venues including schools, churches, offices and historic buildings invited people to come and enjoy a brew and make a donation to the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care.
At Worcester Guildhall the Mayor Dr David Tibbutt raised a cuppa with visitors to show his support, while homemade cakes and cookies were the order of the day at fire and rescue service headquarters on Charles Hastings Way, where staff raised £133,000. Staff at city company VolkerLaser ensured their fund-raising was much more than just a storm in a teacup as they held a raffle which raised £1,215 for the charity. They were just a small number of the fund-raising events which Macmillan believe will help them smash their target.
Kelly Whitehouse, Macmillan fund-raising manager for Worcestershire, said this year’s fund-raiser across Worcestershire was definitely the biggest and best yet.
“The amazing support Macmillan Cancer Support has seen this year has meant we’re set to reach our target of £103,000,” she said. “Early reports show that with over a dozen events raising in excess of £1,000, we should hit and even smash our goal!” The money raised will help to fund vital services like Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists, benefits advice workers, information centres and give thousands of pounds in much-needed patient grants to people affected by cancer.

For more information and to support Macmillan visit the Website or visit their Facebook page

Depaul UK is the largest charity for young homeless people in the UK. They have helped over 50,000 people since they were founded in 1989 and continue to work with over 3,000 young people a year, as well as over 1,000 more young people through our Nightstop schemes.

Depaul UK has made a name for itself by working with the most disadvantaged young people in the UK. They specialise in working in communities where poverty and long-term unemployment have resulted in generations of social exclusion and high rates of homelessness.

For more information visit their website or support them on Facebook

‘Big rise’ in charity food demand, says Fareshare

From: BBC News

Figures from a charity suggest a sharp rise in demand on charities for food.

Fareshare, which redirects food trade surpluses to those in need, said its donations were reaching 35,000 people a day, up from 29,000 a day last year.

The organisation said it had seen the largest annual increase in the number of charities asking for handouts.

Fareshare said low-income families were struggling with rising food prices, and one in three charities it surveyed was facing government funding cuts.

Unprecedented demand

The charity has 17 locations around the UK and passes on good quality supplies from the British food industry to a wide network of organisations such as homeless hostels, women’s refuges, day centres and after-school clubs.

It said that in the year to April it provided 8.6 million meals to 600 groups, and this year it was facing unprecedented demand from some 700 organisations.

The organisation, which works with more than 100 companies in the food and drink industry, said 42% of the charities it surveyed reported an increase in demand for food in the past year.

Some 65% of the charities were slashing food budgets in an effort to stay afloat, it found, according to responses from 150 community members from organisations Fareshare supplies.

Fareshare said there has been an “increase in people and the types of people” seeking food from the charities.

In the past, its donations commonly went to homeless people and refugee charities but more “destitute families” were now among its recipients.

Fareshare chief executive Lindsay Boswell said: “At a time of unprecedented demand we want the food industry and the general public to increase their support.”

He added: “This research supports the growing anecdotal evidence we’ve seen in recent months – more people are getting in touch with Fareshare asking for help to access food.

“We’re committed to working with grassroots charities to make a significant difference to the diets of people in communities all over the UK but we need more food to meet this increased demand.

“We’re asking anyone who works in the food industry in any capacity to look at what is happening to their surplus food and to ask themselves a simple question: ‘Could this food stop someone going hungry?’”