14 minute read
Charity begins at Christmas
From leaving a legacy to purchasing Christmas cards, there are many ways you can help charities at Christmas and beyond
Christmas is the season of goodwill and a time not just of giving but with the huge challenges of Covid-19, a time to reflect on our place and meaning in the world we live in. At the essence of our role in society is what steps we take to support those in need and the causes that matter.
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Charities work tirelessly all year round to find a way either to help those in need and to make the world a better place. Perhaps it is time to reflect on how they manage to survive in these challenging times and our role in helping them do so, as now more than ever they need your help.
One of the main ways of supporting is to give a legacy, a note of intent in one’s Will. With careful consideration and wise investment this could be a great asset to a charity (or charities) that are chosen. Anyone can leave money to charity in their Will, but it can sometimes be a delicate subject when approaching family members. The Institute of Fundraising has guidance and principles on the topic. Making a Will is very simple, firstly find a solicitor or professional Will Maker. In fact, some charities are offering fee Will writing services. You can also amend an existing Will to include a legacy to one or more charities as many people prefer to help more than one cause. It is a gift that will help those who need it most, even the smallest of legacies can make a huge difference to a charity that on a daily basis raising funds is a challenge. Within the magazine there is a diverse cross section of charities all very worthy of consideration. Spend the time reading up about them and their work and the difference you can help them make. Follow a cause that is close to your heart, the reward will be a feeling of well
being unimagined. Most charities would be unable to survive without legacies and by remembering them in this way you ensure that their work lives on.
A monthly direct debit donation can be a great way to make an immediate difference to a charity. Choose an amount you can afford. This can be as little as a couple of pounds a month. Every little helps. Also, with Gift Aid the charity will receive even more.
Donating through gift aid means charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you spend and it doesn’t cost you any extra but only if the donor has paid the same amount through income tax or capital gains tax that year. Websites such as www.gov.uk provide very useful information on this which help the donor seek clarification.
‘The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it’ -William James
Many readers have now reached a time in life where they have all the material things they could possibly want. Why not ask friends and s
family to donate to a charity of your choice instead of purchasing an unwanted gift. Likewise, when it comes to buying gifts for friends and family why not find a way to do this through charities. Go online. Most have a fantastic range of gifts available. It also introduces the recipient to the charity and maybe helps build what might be the start of a lifetimes relationship.
Another way of helping is to buy charity Christmas cards. There are many to choose from. Most charities have their own designs. A quick online search will bring up a fantastic array to choose from. Perhaps sponsor instead, many charities have unique schemes which provide much needed support. Many of our high streets have an abundance of charity shops. Why not take the time to search for a unique gift. A close friend last year set up a £10 challenge. Friends and family all had to purchase gifts from charity shops spending no more than £10 per person. Buying over 30 gifts in total individually and within a group of 11 meant a substantial amount of money ended up in the hands of charities.
I believe it should be the aim of people, especially at Christmas, to
give and to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Of course, there is no compulsion to do this and it is up to the individuals who participate in this to chose what organisation they are going to support. However, as I have found, it does give one a great sense of satisfaction to know that there are others who are better off due to our involvement n
With a gift in your Will, you can be a lifesaver for families devastated by dementia.
A gift in your Will to Dementia UK will help fund more specialist dementia nurses - called Admiral Nurses - so no family everhas tocope with dementia alone.
After family and friends have been taken care of, any gift, however small or large, will help families facing dementia long into the future.
Order your free Gifts in Wills guide today:
Visit: www.dementiauk.org/GIW Call: 0300 365 5500 Email: giftsinwills@dementiauk.org
Dementia UK, 7th Floor, One Aldgate, London EC3N 1RE
Registered charity in England and Wales (1039404) and Scotland (SC047429)
Over the years we have helped an increasing number of cats and kittens in distress, by taking them into our care and finding good homes for them. The cats we take in have often been abandoned or badly treated, some are simply strays who have never had the chance of a proper caring home. Our aim is to help any cat that is in need and we believe that every cat deserves the chance of a good home. Over the years we have helped an increasing number of cats and kittens in distress, by taking them into our care and finding good homes for them. The cats we take in have often been abandoned or badly treated, some are simply strays who have never had the chance of a proper caring home. Our aim is to help any cat that is in need and we believe that every cat deserves the chance of a good home. es Cat Rescue was set up through our nt in animal welfare campaigning in the s we became established and our “no-kill” ame known our work increased dramatically. e cats have been abandoned or are simply a new home because of a change in people’s ces. Some have been ill treated. They are of love and care. home environment with the freedom of the country garden that surrounds the sanctuary. Our work with feral cats involves spaying and neutering complete colonies and giving any necessary veterinary treatment. Feral cats are returned to their site of capture if long-term food and shelter can be provided. If not, they are relocated to a suitable farm or country home or have a home for life with us with complete freedom TorquayTorquay We do not believe in putting animals to sleep unnecessarily and we actively encourage sterilisation as a vital part of pet ownership. Please remember us in your will. Your donation or legacy will help our work for the animals and save lives. Contact Liz Varney Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Fax: 01825 768012 Email: lizzie@internationalanimalrescue.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 We do not believe in putting animals to sleep unnecessarily and we actively encourage sterilisation as a vital part of pet ownership. Please remember us in your will. Your donation or legacy will help our work for the animals and save lives. Contact Liz Varney Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Fax: 01825 768012 Email: lizzie@internationalanimalrescue.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 s always been to help any cat regardless of rament or behaviour problems, be they wild onsequently we tend to get desperate calls for erly, feral and ‘difficult’ to re-home cats. In eet these needs we have had to become a s well as a cat rescue and re-homing n. The cats in our care are given a high veterinary care and we strongly believe and neutering as a responsible part of pet The cats that are difficult to re-home are hance to live out their days in a peaceful once they have settled in. We believe every cat deserves a chance to have a safe, caring and peaceful place to live and enjoy the rest of their lives. Its surprising how often the most seemingly unfriendly and so called ‘spiteful’ cat that arrives hissing, spitting and lashing out, or has the most difficult and anti-social habits and behaviour, can change with love, care and lots of patience. Catastrophes believe that every life saved is worth the effort it takes and with your support more cats in need will have a bright future. Catastrophes Cat Rescue For further information: Contact Liz Varney Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9JS Tel. 01435 830212, Fax 01825 768012, Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org Visit us on The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed Great choice Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed Great choice Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on Catastrophes Cat Rescue Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Mobile: 07912 113392 Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org Registered Charity Number: 1017304 Visitors welcome by appointment Legac TLH Leisure Resort, Belgrave Rd, Torquay, TQ2 5HSTLH Leisure Resort, Belgrave Rd, Torquay, TQ2 5HS yYearbook 2018 page #TLHhotels 22#TLHhotels
Catastrophes Cat Rescue Catastrophes Cat Rescue Raising funds for a new Treatment, Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre.
Catastrophes Cat are returned to their site of Rescue was set capture if long-term food and up through our shelter can be provided. If not, involvement in animal welfare Torquay Torquay they are relocated to a suitable farm or country home or have campaigning a home for life with us with in the ‘70’s and as we became complete freedom once they established and our “no-kill” have settled in. policy became known our work We believe every cat increased dramatically. deserves a chance to have a the very top of the charity’s aims. They are
Many of the cats have been safe, caring and peaceful place currently in the process of a campaign to raise RETIREMENT todayLegacy Yearbook 2020 page 24 abandoned or are simply in need of a new home because of a change in people’s circumstances. Some have been ill treated. They are all in need of love and care. Our aim has always been to help any cat regardless of age, temperament or behaviour problems, be they wild or tame. Consequently we tend to get desperate calls for help for elderly, feral and ‘difficult’ to re-home cats. In order to meet these needs we have had to become a sanctuary as well as a cat rescue and re-homing organisation. The cats in our care are given a high standard of veterinary care and we strongly believe in spaying and neutering as a responsible part of pet ownership. The cats that are difficult to re-home are given the chance to live out their days in a peaceful home environment with the freedom of the country garden that surrounds the sanctuary. Our work with feral cats involves spaying and neutering complete colonies and giving any necessary veterinary treatment. Feral cats to live and enjoy the rest of their lives. Its surprising how often the most seemingly unfriendly and so called ‘spiteful’ cat that arrives hissing, spitting and lashing out, or has the most difficult and antisocial habits and behaviour, can change with love, care and lots of patience. Catastrophes believe that every life saved is worth the effort it takes and with your support more cats in need will have a bright future. Catastrophes Cat Rescue For further information: Contact LizVarney Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212, Mobile: 07912113392 Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org A life on the streets – now enjoying home comforts The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed TLH Leisure Resort, Belgrave Rd, Torquay, TQ2 5HS • Great choice • Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on #TLHhotels The small hotel with a big heart and a big view... in the heart of Torquay www.tlh.co.uk sales@tlh.co.uk 01803 400500 Great times...guaranteed TLH Leisure Resort, Belgrave Rd, Torquay, TQ2 5HS • Great choice • Great entertainment • Great facilities • Great value We’re social, join us on #TLHhotels For cats with no or little hope Catastrophes Cat Rescue provides a lifeline that they so desperately need. Many of the cats in their care have been abandoned or ill treated and many are simply feral and too difficult for other sanctuaries to take on board. Whatever their special needs, Liz Varney and the team at Catastrophes never turn a cat away whatever their circumstances or how difficult they appear. The charity’s mantra is that every cat deserves a chance. Cats are given the opportunity to live out their lives in a peaceful country cottage environment or rehomed if possible. For cats who have no one the charity is in Liz’s words ‘their someone’ working to meet the needs of all cats in the charities care. Of course many of the cats come with enormous health problems and making sure that they receive proper vet care is at £80,000 to build a Treatment, Recovery & Rehabilitation Centre. This facility is vital to meet the needs of cats in care. Many come in with health problems, dental issues are often diagnosed, in particular the feral cats who have had no level of care in their lifetime. Liz believes that neutering is only the first step and wants to make sure that every cat has a clean bill of health. She also believes that the Recovery & Rehabilitation centre will offer an opportunity to facilitate Veterinary professionals to be proactive with the work of the charity and make a huge difference to the welfare of the cats in her care n For further details of how you can help the charity Contact Liz Varney 01435 830212 mobile 07912 113392 Email lizzie@catastrophescats.org website www.catastrophescats.org
If we don’t, who will?
You and I know what it’s like to try and navigate the healthcare system to get the help we need for our loved ones. We’ve lived through the anger and frustration. And we don’t want other families to have to face it alone. We know that mental illness isn’t necessarily a popular cause. So because of those we’ve lost. And because of those we’ve saved, it’s down to us. We can change how mental illness is treated, by leaving a legacy to Rethink Mental Illness. Rethink Mental Illness help stop people with mental illness falling through the gaps in the system, but they rely on gifts in wills to fund their Advice and Information Service, peer support groups and campaigning work.
If you’d like a little more information first, visit rethink.org/wewill to request a free guide or call Dan Walshe on 020 7840 3032.
Leave a legacy to change how mental illness is treated
Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for the millions of people affected by mental Illness. For almost 50 years they have brought people together to support each other through their services, groups and campaign.
Rethink Mental Illness Registered Office 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP United Kingdom email: info@rethink.org Registered in England Number 1227970. Registered Charity Number 271028
RETIREMENT today
