It’s the city’s business
BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS (49) >>JAMES CARLIN ON COMPASSION AT CHRISTMAS (51) >>NICHOLAS WYLDE (52)
The giving spirit
C
hristmas is always a time when we start thinking about charity, but in a year of such unprecedented challenge, how we can give back to those in need in our city feels more pressing than ever. During this festive season, there are plenty of causes in Bath in need of support. We’ve gathered a few of them here, from donation drives to resilience challenges.
fundraising challenge. The charity, which supports people dealing with homelessness in Bath, is expecting an income loss of £200,000 in 2020 as a result of cancelled fundraising events. Help them redress the balance by raising as much sponsorship as you can to spend a night sleeping out in the open – there are even prizes for top fundraisers. Sign up now and get a head start gathering your sponsors. www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk
Bath Cats and Dogs Home Winter Appeal
Xmas Party Heroes
Since March, the Bath Cats and Dogs Home has taken in 100 animals from the RSPCA, many as a direct result of owners struggling to cope with a pet amidst the impact of the pandemic. A lot of these animals arrived in very poor condition, and have required a lot of extra TLC. This Christmas The Bath Cats and Dogs Home are asking for donations towards essential medication, tailored care packages and life-saving operations. www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk The Big Bath Sleep-Out
Sign up now for Julian House’s March 2021
LEFT: Sleep out to raise much needed funds for Julian House;
RIGHT: Miriam Beck, Giles Lascelle, Ella Lindley and Sue Topalian of
Xmas Party Heroes are asking businesses to donate the money they would have spent on their office Christmas party to charity this year. Bath-based charity Trauma Breakthrough, which provides mental health services for adult survivors of abuse and all forms of trauma, have benefitted from the scheme. Trauma Breakthrough’s CEO Giles Lascelle says “Breakthrough has worked non-stop through two lockdowns not just to keep key services available but also to expand our crisis service to survivors of abuse and trauma who are experiencing a mental health crisis as a result of the pandemic. Since March this year we have seen
Trauma Breakthrough are thrilled with the donation
referrals rise by over 500 per cent with no sign of slowing down, which means we are struggling to provide the 24/7 support that our service-users all need.” This fantastic initiative is one good thing to come out of cancelled Christmas party season. “Just one donation from the Xmas Party Heroes campaign could keep our crisis helpline service open all Christmas, meaning we will be able to help many more people who are at risk of suicide and self-harm,” says Giles. www.traumabreakthrough.org www.xmaspartyheroes.co.uk Bath Community Shop
The shop in Twerton is a not-for-profit that supplies low-cost clothes, shoes, toys, books, household equipment and small items of furniture to some of the most underprivileged in our community. For Christmas they are asking for gift donations they can wrap and deliver to people unable to afford them – from children’s toys to a lovely bath bomb, they are out to make sure none in our community go without a gift this Christmas. www.facebook.com/communityshop123
MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115
