|
CASH
FOR CHRISTMAS CARDS CAN HELP CHILDREN
AS CHRISTMAS approaches at breakneck speed the NSPCC has come
up with ideas to take some of the hassle out of Christmas
preparations – and help children at the same time.
For those who haven’t yet written their Christmas card list, let
alone sent their cards, the NSPCC suggests making a donation to a
local NSPCC branch instead of sending cards this year. The
children’s charity is also appealing to workplaces and businesses to
do the same.
Steve Morton, head of
community appeals for the NSPCC in the North West, said:-
“Cash for cards is an excellent way to support the NSPCC’s work with
children and families and take some of the hassle out of Christmas.
A Christmas card is on the mantelpiece for a short time, but a
donation can make a lasting difference to a child’s life. This
year we are encouraging offices to contact us for a Cash for Cards
pack so that they can support the scheme and raise money for abused
and neglected children rather than send a card to someone they sit
next to.”
For those people who want to stick with sending Christmas cards,
there are plenty of other ways to help the NSPCC help children this
Christmas.
You can:
• Buy NSPCC wristbands as stocking fillers
• Check out the NSPCC
Christmas catalogue for gifts. You can view the catalogue and buy
online at
www.nspcc.org.uk/shop.
• Donate your last
hour’s pay before Christmas to the NSPCC
• Hold a sweep stake on
how many times the word ‘Christmas’ is said in the Queen’s speech
• Organise a raffle at
the office Christmas party
And the fundraising need not end with Christmas. Why not organise a
sale of unwanted gifts after Christmas? As New Year is the ideal
time to make resolutions, what better resolution can there be than
to help end cruelty to children?
Steve said:- “If you are planning a diet to work off those
extra pounds gained over Christmas, why not make it a sponsored diet
in aid of the NSPCC? Or better still, make a resolution to become an
NSPCC volunteer, or pledge a small amount a month to the NSPCC to
help children. Because 83% of NSPCC funding comes from
voluntary donations, we rely heavily on the generosity of members of
the public. Every pound raised helps as it supports the work of our
177 projects which prevent cruelty and help abused children through
therapy and counselling.”
For a Cash for Cards pack, or for more information about supporting
the NSPCC, please ring Margaret Biddle on 0161 628 1209. |
Southport & Ormskirk Car Park Charges
AS PART of the Trust's Green Transport Strategy, and its
attempt to encourage use alternative forms of transport other than
cars, the cost of parking at both Southport & Formby and Ormskirk
District General Hospitals will be increasing from Tuesday 3 January
2006. The cost will go up to £2.00 per visit, which is the first
increase for 2 years.
However, the various concessions currently available will still
apply; these are:-
Free parking for Blue Badge holders. If there are no disabled spaces
available and patients or visitors have to park in a barriered car
park, at Southport they should go to the porters lodge by the main
entrance where they will receive a free token or at Ormskirk they
should press the 'help' button on the exit barrier.
£5 weekly season ticket. These are available from the General Office
at either hospital and are in the form of a swipe card that is valid
for a week. There is a £5 deposit for the card.
Refund of parking charges for those on income support. When a
patient who is on income support attends a clinic they should ask
for a patient transport claim form from the clinic or department and
they should take it together with evidence of the income support
they are receiving to the General Office at either hospital. They
will then receive a refund of the parking charge.
It is estimated the increased charges will raise around £100,000 in
a year, which is money that is needed to aid the Trust's recovery
plan.
Steve Taylor, Director of Capital & Facilities said:- "This
decision was not taken lightly, but it is necessary to try to
encourage the use of alternative forms of travel to and from the
hospital. While the parking situation has eased a little at
Ormskirk, at Southport it is still a major problem and we had hoped
the planned Foul Lane park and ride facility would help with the
situation. Unfortunately we now understand that this will not now be
opening in 2006 as we had previously understood, and indeed its
future is unclear. Despite our continued discussions with
local councils and transport providers, there is still a problem for
us, and we feel this is the only course of action we can take. The
concessions currently available, such as the £5 weekly season ticket
for frequent visitors, are not changing."
 |
