Become a rainbow friend

Could you help an organisation by volunteering?

Volunteering can take many forms. I already volunteer for the charity From me to You, a charity that sends letters to people undergoing cancer treatment. I write them two letters a month. (Details can be found on a previous entry.) But that is all I do, or so I thought when someone then pointed out a few other things I do which I hadn’t considered to be volunteering. They don’t take up a great deal of time but they make a difference. These include messaging a sick friend every day with snippets of news so that they don’t feel they are being left out, visiting an elderly lady who cannot get out of the house anymore and collecting unwanted items such as used stamps for various charities. None of these take up huge amounts of time and I don’t consider them volunteering, but they are things I do to help others.

The act of volunteering is described as someone giving their time and energy freely to help others or to support organisations without expecting any reimbursement. Volunteering can benefit individuals, communities or organisations and can be a mix of formal, or informal activities. Many charities and organisations could not function without the help of volunteers; they are invaluable to their day to day running. Think of all the charity shops and the many people who sort through donations, stock the shelves or serve at the counter. Other shops require knitted or crafted goods to sell, such as animal rescues or items collected. Scouting and guiding is almost entirely run by volunteers providing safe places for children to go. Then there are food banks, organisations such as the Women’s Institute or the University of the 3A which need volunteers to ensure their smooth running. The need for volunteers is vast. In my village and its close neighbours, we have a community library to run, a weekly coffee morning, a Women’s Institute, village in bloom, Hot spots providing warm soup in winter, the parish council, yearly litter pick and so on, the list of activities needing support is endless.

Volunteering does not have to demand a great deal of time; in fact, it is one of the few things you can do where YOU dictate how much time and effort you can put in. If you only have a few hours every now and again that doesn’t matter, just choose  an organisation where they can accept that.

There are many personal benefits from volunteering too. It is a great way to make a positive impact on something that you care about whether that be helping at a soup kitchen or creating something for an animal rescue centre. It helps strengthen communities by working together on a common goal and helps individuals to connect with others.  As a direct consequence of that, feelings of isolation and loneliness can seriously improve. Volunteering can help us grow as individuals, building self confidence and self esteem and helping us to learn new skills from others and it could help change someone else’s life for the better.

Volunteering has been proven to reduce stress levels as it provides a sense of purpose and combats a lack of self-worth. For those who have battled loneliness or feeling an outsider, it can help you to integrate into your community and become an active and valued participant.

These are all fabulous reasons for volunteering as your community, organisation and yourself could benefit hugely but volunteering can also be great fun! Making a tangible difference to something that you care about is such a great feeling, supporting others, seeing the differences that can be made are all hugely rewarding and if you are in a position to do so can benefit you greatly.

So why have I joined a committee?  I already feel more a part of the group I have volunteered for. I have enjoyed this group for a few years and would like to contribute to its future success.  I am unable to devote as much time as most of those on the committee but can help out in smaller ways which will bring me satisfaction and I am hoping that my confidence will grow as I become more involved.

The great thing about volunteering is that you don’t always need lots of special skills or vast amounts of free time.  Choose what you are interested in, approach the organisation and offer what you can. Most charities and organisations will be so grateful for the offer, they will encourage you instantly.

If we all gave a little bit back to society, we could make big changes. Check out your local paper and social media for ideas and suggestions.  Approach a local group and give it some serious thought. By putting that effort in, you are likely to get far greater benefits along with a sense of purpose, some new skills and a host of new friends.

The main fact to remember is, that without volunteers, many organisations would cease to exist and that is a sobering thought.

The Buddy Bag Foundation

www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk

Unit 16 Maybrook Road

 Maybrook Business Park

Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield

Birmingham

B76 1AL

Tel 077976962986

Email: hello@buggybagfoundation.co.uk

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The Buddy Bag Foundation was founded in 2015 with the aim of making a difference to these children in need and to provide a sense that someone cares, in a world where maybe love has been in short supply. During 2014, founder Karen Williams OBE was visiting Australia when she read an article about the A & M Foundation which has delivered 100,000 buddy bags to children in Australia since 2007.  These were bags providing basic essentials to children entering emergency care.  Returning to the UK, Karen recognised the huge need here and set up the Buddy Bag Foundation with the help and support of The A & M Foundation.

Karen was determined to respond to the rising number of children fleeing from often violent situations in their homes to emergency care and trying to restore a sense of safety and security in to what has been a traumatic time in a child’s life. Her aim was to supply each child with a Buddy bag containing around 12 essential items that a child would need on their first night. For those who have left home in haste and arrived with nothing, they are vitally important as they provide the child with something they can keep and call their own, no matter where they go. Each bag will contain items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, soap along with other basic hygiene essentials and a pair of pyjamas, socks and underwear.  Also included are usually a teddy bear or soft toy, providing huge comfort to a traumatised child and a bedtime story book or colouring book and crayons  – items that most of us take for granted.  Each bag is tailored to a specific age: 0-2 years, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 and13-16 and a specific gender.

The first Buddy bag pack took place on May 1st 2012 and the Foundation was registered as a charity on December 1st 2015. Since then, over 69,000 bags have been packed. During Covid, the Foundation created craft boxes which were delivered to refuges. In June 2022, the Foundation was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services for their outstanding work, the highest award voluntary groups can receive in the UK.

There are various ways that you can support the Foundation both individually and as groups. If you live locally, you can volunteer yourself or your business to help with bag packs. For those living elsewhere: funds are always needed.  £25 will purchase all the supplies a child needs when entering emergency accommodation.  The foundation is run entirely by volunteers and guarantees that 100% of all donated money is used for supplies.  If you work in a business creating suitable products, perhaps you could persuade your company to donate to the Foundation or provide sponsorship.

For crafters, there are patterns (crafters pack) available on the website for toiletry bags if you like sewing and for simple teddy bears for those who prefer knitting. These add a homely touch to the buddy back packs and can be individualised with specific colours or patterns. Also on the website is information and publicity materials to use in your workspace, schools, organisations etc, resources for children to access and short films showing the work that they do. As always, with any of the charities I mention, publicity is key.  This is not a charity I had heard of before so I am hoping that spreading the word will encourage others to look them up.  Refuges can apply to the Foundation for bags and all details can be found on the website and as a personal collector, if you decide to make bags of your own, the Foundation will help you to find a suitable place to donate in your local area. There is also an online shop with specific items such as books, teddies and pyjamas where if you buy an item, the equivalent is donated – another way to help fund these essential packs.

Imagine you are a child whose life has been one of fear. Imagine running from your home with your mum and siblings dressed just as you are, leaving your favourite toy behind and entering a strange building with absolutely nothing.  Imagine being given a brightly coloured backpack filled with goodies: your own toothbrush, a new pair of pyjamas, clean underwear, a book to read and a teddy to cuddle. And then imagine what a difference that will make to the way you are feeling, the joy that you would experience and the comfort that would bring.  The Buddy Bag Foundation provides hope, comfort and love to children suffering. Could you help them?

Sharewear Clothing Scheme

www.sharewearclothingscheme.org

D1-D2 Cowlairs

Nottingham

NG5 9RA

Tel: 03300577844

Email: info@sharewearclothingscheme.org

Sharewear’s mission is to provide free bedding and clothing to those in need through a referral system or through an outreach service to a variety of organisations. Anyone who is referred is given a voucher which enables them to visit the centre. Here they are shown rails of suitable clothing for them to select what is needed, whether it be for everyday use, interview or for work etc.

Sharewear began in March 2014 and became a registered charity in November two years later. Originally, they were completely volunteer led but now they have 4 employees including the Founder and CEO working alongside an army of willing volunteers, many of whom have benefited from the scheme at some point and want to give back. They constantly raise awareness of clothing poverty – not something I had given much thought to before. I had seen food banks and hygiene banks; at work we have a rail of donated work clothing but the fact that people might not have sufficient clothes to function in society had not been something I was particularly conscious of. The opportunity to choose and how important that is for self esteem and dignity was also an eye opener for me.  Since October 2022, 250 organisations are referring to this Nottingham based centre with places such as the East and West Midlands, South Yorkshire and North London placing orders for outreach deliveries.

Although the centre is based in Nottingham, if you are not in the area donations can be posted or there may be something similar in your area. They also have loads of information on their website about  setting up your own scheme, offering advice, information, equipment and support with grants amongst lots of other things to help you get started. Check out the Community Sharewear franchise information if this is something that might be of interest to you or your business.

The charity accepts new and preloved clothing and bedding. If you are unable to donate in person and are choosing to post they are currently ask you to get in touch first, so that they can coordinate while changes are being made to their system. In Nottingham there are various clothing banks where donations can be left or manned donation points (often in churches). The rules are simple: if you would like to donate please make sure the clothing is of high quality. Ask would you wear it yourself or be happy if a member of your family was wearing the item?  If so, then place in a carrier bag to avoid damage and then into the collecting unit.   Knickers, pants, tights and socks, which are vital, MUST be new, but lightly worn bras are accepted.  They do not accept: food; toiletries; household goods (apart from bedding and towels); bric a brac, jewellery or toys.

Fundraising, donations and raising awareness are all important to help this charity continue its work. You can also donate your Nectar points or participate in a fundraising lottery. Such is the success of the charity, they have won various awards and attracted celebrity interest from the likes of Maxine Peaker and Julie Hesmondhalgh!

If you live in the Nottinghamshire area and would like to donate your time, there are plenty of opportunities. At the service centre volunteers are need to greet customers and give them a tour of the facilities, to prepare and pack orders, to help clients find what they require, to prepare selections of children’s clothing for parents to choose from (no children under 12 are allowed on the premises) and to replenish stock and keep check of what they are short of. At the Processing and Distribution Centre volunteers are needed as processors, clothing operators, stock operators and order processors.  Others can volunteer to help drivers move stock between the centres and make deliveries. Check out the FAQ section on the website for further details.

Inevitably some clothing is donated that is totally unsuitable but yet again, landfill is avoided. All clothing waste is collected by another local family business, WARD, who sell to textile recyclers or repurpose them into wiper rags or energy from waste to keep them out of landfill.

Since march 2014, 130,652 people have been supported and since January 2022, 254 tonnes of clothing has been diverted from landfill. To me, those figures are wonderful but shocking. Why waste good quality clothing when it can be reused by somebody else? Why put it into landfill when all of it can be recycled or repurposed? It makes no sense. I’ve always tried to pass on my clothing to someone else or donate it to charity but had never before understood the growing clothing poverty that exists in this country and how it can impact so heavily on someone’s life.

So next time I am clearing out my wardrobe, (something I need to do quite soon!) I shall look for a similar scheme where I live, rather than place it in an anonymous charity bag at the end of the street. It would be great to think that someone else could benefit and perhaps gain employment through items I have donated.

Caring 4 Critters

5 Huntriss Row

Scarborough

YO12 2ED

Email: C4Critters@yahoo.com

Tel: 07951650316

I’ve not come across this charity before and it does seem to be limited to Yorkshire but perhaps there is a similar outlet near to you.

This relatively new charity is dedicated to helping animals in need whether they are domestic animals or wild animals.  They aim to raise funds in order to provide support to local charities and to make a vast difference in the lives of animals in the area, ensuring that they receive the best care and protection that is available.

The charity set up its flagship shop in Huntriss Row on the 1st of November 2023 and it seems to be going from strength to strength. It looks like the shop sells everything – good quality clothing, accessories, shoes, ornaments, household goods, toys and so on.  It is also the fundraising hub for Caring 4 Critters, led by Managing Director Sue Kendall.  With incredible support from the local community, generous patrons and hardworking volunteers, the shop has had an excellent start. Every purchase directly supports their mission to help as many animals as they can and to be ‘.. a beacon of hope and compassion for animals in need.’  The funds raised contribute to critical rescue missions, the ongoing veterinary care and conservation efforts that protect and enhance the lives of even the tiniest of creatures.

The shop has become a hub for information on how you can help the charity by donating goods, raising funds or holding a fundraising event such as raffles, stalls and jumble sales.  They also have a veterinary nurse popping in to give useful advice on looking after your animals and even a talk from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service on how to ensure your pets do not unwittingly cause a fire and their fire safety. Further talks and events are in the planning stages.

The charity has chosen to raise funds for four local animal charities.  These are:

Yorkshire Coast Dog Rescue who work to rescue and rehome dogs

Northern Badger Group

Yorkshire Seal Group

Critters in Crisis who support both wild life and domestic animals.

The charity was so successful in its first year, it was able to donate £1000 to each of the four charities it supports and it has now opened a second shop in Aberdeen Walk in February of this year.  They welcome visitors to look around the shop and hopefully find that all important bargain. With a vast range of goods, plus beautiful cards, coasters and pictures of animals taken by local photographers, there is surely something for everyone!  But, even if you are unable to donate or visit the shop, the charity asks you to spread the word of this new venture believing that even the smallest mention can help to support their vital work.

Follow them on Facebook to see news of the latest events, success stories and ideas for what you can do to help.  And if you do not live anywhere near Yorkshire, perhaps there is a similar group near to you which you can support instead.

Random Acts of Crochet Kindness

www.randomactsofcrochetkindness.com

Can you crochet?  Are you looking for some projects to keep you busy?

If so, perhaps you might think of making some random acts of crochet kindness!  

 These are small individual items which are made and left in strategic places for other people to find and keep.  The idea is to give a little piece of brightness and happiness to someone else, making their day more special and making people smile. These kind strangers donating items for the benefit of someone else, are helping to build a community of kindness that other people can join in too.

The aim of random acts is to make the world a happier and more positive place. In amongst all the doom and gloom of local and world news, finding a random object in a random place can mean the difference between having a gloomy day and finding joy in life. In this way, we can help others to improve their mental health and wellbeing with the joy of finding a random piece of crochet, but at the same time, the joy of giving improves our own mental wellbeing too! It is a win/win situation.

It is amazing how a small, simple but unexpected gesture can have a huge impact on other people. Finding something unexpectedly can completely change your view of the day and make you think that life is not so hard or difficult or unhappy as you originally thought.

A Facebook page by the same name was created by Olivia Dieterich who lost one of her best friends to suicide. It was a difficult time for everyone concerned and Olivia decided that she needed a distraction and a purpose to help her cope. She began a 100 day flower challenge which involved her creating 100 flowers with a message, that she would leave in random places for strangers to find. In this way she hoped to make someone else smile.  The BBC contacted her when they discovered what was going on and how by making these simple flowers, Olivia was creating joy and light in what had been a dark time for her and her friends.

There are many different groups, some purely devoted to crochet and others that are linked to the more general random acts of kindness groups.  Crocheters can create anything they wish – hearts, flowers, butterflies, worry worms and so on to brighten the day and make someone smile, or more useful items such as hats and scarves which can be left for homeless people to take.  Many items are placed in plastic bags to keep them protected from the weather until they are found and many will have a simple note or rhyme attached explaining that the item is free and intended to be taken. They might explain the reasoning behind the movement: to spread happiness and joy and to give comfort.

There are loads of ideas on YouTube or Pinterest as well as on the various random acts Facebook pages. Many encourage people to post images of their creations and where they are left, will offer free patterns and will have helpful information on how to go about creating your own random acts.

Random acts of crochet kindness uses one stitch at a time to create a warmer and more connected world, allowing people to share their skills, their passions and their warmth to make a positive impact on a stranger’s day. The maker is likely never to know who finds their creations or what effect it might have, but they are aware that they are beginning a chain reaction.  They create an item, it is found, a person will smile and maybe that will be passed onto somebody else in need of some support.

Being kind to one another without any specific reason just feels great. Knowing that you are brightening someone’s day, making them smile and forget their troubles for a while has a wonderful effect on your own mental health and wellbeing. It is true that kind words and actions may not seem to be that significant or grand, but the long-term effects and the ripple effect that they cause are surprisingly large.

Find a group near you, check out the Facebook groups or set up a random group of your own and spread a little joy in what can appear to be a very dark, depressing and difficult world to negotiate at the moment.  Have some fun, use bright colours and enjoy the secrecy involved in making and hiding your creations. Hopefully messages will appear on your local Facebook site explaining just what joy these delightful finds can have.

Boots recycling schemes

www.boots.com

recycle your blister packs, contact lens packaging and empty toiletry containers

To participate all you have to do is download the Recycle at Boots app.  Here you can log your empties and await validation.  Once 5 items are approved, these can be deposited in a participating store, the collection bin scanned and advantage points awarded.  Full details can be found on their website alongside a store locator for you to find your nearest collecting point. Blister packs must be empty but if you have some still containing medication that is not needed, speak to the pharmacy team who will help you dispose of it safely and responsibly.

On collection, the blister packs are taken to MyGroup who separate the foil and plastic using a specialised machine. The separated metal foil is recycled conventionally as it can be reused over and over again and the plastic components are processed into a useable form to be used in the creation of items such as window frames and piping.  Nothing goes to landfill or is incinerated.

Another recycling scheme which I have not seen before but am excited by, is for the blister packs and foil covers from contact lenses.  In 2021 over 2.2m items of contact lens packaging was recycled, diverting 12 tons of waste from landfill. Boots Opticians stores have a Zero Waste Box which makes recycling a simple and convenient solution to getting rid of your packaging.

Recycle at Boots will also take some of your empty health, beauty, wellness and dental product containers in their mission to keep Britain beautiful. Many brands can be recycled by conventional kerbside collection schemes, but there are some that cannot be disposed of in this way due to their size or the materials used in their manufacture.  The Recycle at Boots app will again be used in this instance.  The app validates items that can be taken to the store and will not accept anything that can be recycled by normal means. Validation will occur within 24 hours and points can be earned.

All items need to be washed and thoroughly cleaned. Participants then log them into the app, await validation and then deposit them in store in the various collecting boxes. The QR code on the box needs to be scanned to earn your rewards. Recycle 5 or more items and spend £10 in store to collect 500 Advantage Card points.

Packaging is reused to make garden furniture, playground equipment and other useful items, once again transforming our rubbish/waste into something more valuable and avoiding landfill.

These schemes are easy to use if you can handle Apps and avoid overuse of landfill sites. It seems a great initiative from Boots and another way to increase the number of customers heading through their doors when many big name shops are struggling. It is great to see them adapting, listening to their customers and helping them to dispose of unwanted items in a responsible and useful way.

Donate your unwanted LEGO bricks to inspire the builders of tomorrow

LEGO Replay

www.lego.com/Replay-UK

They love to hear that no bricks are wasted – that sets are passed between friend’s and families and are used over and over again for many years. However, they are also aware that there may finally be a time when you have no one else to pass it onto or your family is just not interested.  LEGO will suggest donating it to charity shops, local community activities or schools but they have also launched the LEGO Replay scheme in the UK as a way to ‘breathe new life into old bricks by transforming them into useful items that inspire playful learning.’

The Replay scheme was launched in the United States in 2019, Canada in 2020 and finally in the UK in 2024. It is a very simple scheme which enables people to donate their unwanted or odd bricks without fuss or cost. LEGO are aware that 94% of British LEGO is re gifted or donated to good causes and they don’t want to stop this but, if you have odd bricks or sets with missing pieces, they don’t want these to be thrown into the bin, ultimately ending up as landfill. These pieces can be reused, redistributed or created into new items.

LEGO states ‘Your LEGO bricks aren’t ready to retire yet. They’ve still got plenty of adventure left in them,’ and they have set up the Replay scheme to address this.

The scheme is incredibly simple. They ask you to break up all your spare bits into individual pieces, pack them into a box, download a freepost label and then send it to them! Pack it, Print it, Ship it! The bricks don’t even have to be cleaned before packing though you can if you want to. All donated bricks are cleaned on site before transforming into new items but there are handy hints on the website if you wish to wash bricks or clean your own collection. Once received, the donations are cleaned and organised into collections that have a variety of components to help children create and build in an open-ended way - they are not designed to be sets to make a specific item. Each collection will have a mixture of shapes and colours. Breaking down the bricks makes it easier to pack and for sorting at the collection point.

LEGO Replay are collecting any LEGO system bricks from single or multiple sets, LEGO mini figures and mini dolls plus LEGO baseplates. They are not collecting Duplo or Technic, sets that are already put together (either partially or fully), batteries or electrical components, LEGO merchandise, instructions or packaging – it is bricks only.

Boxed donations can be taken to any DPD Drop off Point. Some old bricks are transformed into storage boxes and then filled with new LEGO bricks to be donated to children and communities in need, others will be distributed in mixed selections.

It’s a great way to reuse bricks that are no longer needed or wanted. LEGO see it as another way to extend the current life of their bricks rather than using energy and resources to transform them into something new and helping the company to reduce its environmental impact.  Tim Brooks LEGO’s VP of environmental sustainability says ‘We want to rehome, repurpose or recycle every LEGO brick to keep them in play for longer.’

This scheme seems an ideal way to ensure that that happens. So next time you are having a sort out, collect up those sets with missing pieces, the bits your own children don’t need or want anymore or your partner’s ancient sets from their childhood and send them off to Replay. You can then be happy knowing that you are helping another generation to build, dream and explore new worlds and who knows, maybe supporting and inspiring the architects and construction workers of the future!

Keep an eye on your neighbours and wildlife through the colder months

Many local communities have organised hot spots – places where people can gather to keep warm, have a hot drink, a simple meal and some company and these are amazing places providing a very valuable service. But when the weather is bad, it is not always easy for people to access them – the dangers are too great or the weather too cold. And this is when problems can occur. A lonely person can begin feeling more isolated.  A cold person gets even colder. And a hungry person, can’t get out to get something to eat.  So what can we do as a good neighbour to help those in our community who are finding things hard?

I am sure you can think of lots of things but here are a few examples:

Find out where your local hotspot is and offer your services. You could help with the preparation and serving of food, donate some produce that could be turned into nutritious meals, do the washing up or just sit with the more vulnerable in your community offering companionship and comfort.

Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Pop in to say hello and ensure that they are warm and comfortable, that they have a hot drink to hand and something warm to eat.

Ring people for a chat and brighten their day especially if they have been confined to their house and unable to get out, providing a link to the outside world and the opportunity to speak to a real person.

Ensure you have torches and candles to hand in the event of a power cut and visit an elderly person if there is one to make sure they are safe and not afraid.

Offer to baby sit for young families if a parent needs to go to work or out to buy groceries but would find it hard to take their children with them or offer to do the shopping for them instead.

Clear pathways for those unable to do it themselves so that they can get to their cars, or to their dustbins etc without fear of falling over.

Check for stray animals and leave out food and water for them.  Keep bird tables well stocked and break ice on water bowls regularly so they have access to drinking water.

These are just a few examples, there are so many more things we could do as a community to ensure that our friends and neighbours are safe, warm, well fed and able to cope. I am lucky that I live in a small village and although I don’t know many people who live here, there were clear signs that our community is alive and thriving when I went out this morning.  A farmer had brought his tractor and was clearing the small roads.  Some people were using the grit tubs to make the corners easier to handle, others were shovelling snow from driveways. The next village along has been partly hit by a power cut but several households had sent messages to say that they had electricity and were happy for anyone to pop in for  a warm, a hot drink or to fill their flasks with hot water. Others were saying they had plenty of food and people were welcome to call in for a simple but warming meal. When the news is often filled with gloom and stories of people being cruel and unkind, these simple gestures truly make you believe that there are still many kind people and good community feeling around.  Wouldn’t it be nice to publicise that more instead?

So this wintertime, when the weather gets bad, be a Rainbow friend and call on someone you think may need some assistance. Even if they don’t, having a visitor or a call from a friendly neighbour, will brighten their day.  No one should feel isolated, cold, hungry or alone – it costs nothing to call in apart from time but the good that you could do with that simple act is immeasurable.

Be a good friend and neighbour, keep that community spirit going and know that by helping someone else, it will brighten your day too!