Your views
For many of us the festive season is a time for giving and sharing. I’d like to take a moment to share with your readers how in choosing to give to our charity, you’ll be making a real difference to the lives of the disabled people and carers that we support.
As a charity we know that life is all about spending time with the people we love, and everyday life can so easily get in the way of that.
Tina has cared for her son Aaron since birth. Caring is simply something she does for the person she loves.
As she explains: “Carers are often called heroes. I don’t see myself as a hero – I’m just a mum with a lot of love to give.”
That’s why, we want to give people like Tina and Aaron the gift of time to spend together this Christmas.
I work for Revitalise, an amazing national charity that provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers.
Our respite holiday centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport are open to our guests all year round, including over Christmas and the New Year.
Our breaks give our guests the chance to take time away from the stresses of everyday life and to simply spend time doing what really matters – making memories with those they love.
And giving a gift doesn’t just have to mean supporting our Christmas Appeal, you can support us by giving us your time too.
We are lucky to have the support of thousands of incredible volunteers, who generously give their time even over Christmas, helping us to ensure that our guests have the most memorable holiday.
So, in celebration of Giving Tuesday this month, why not pledge to give something special to our charity this festive season?
For more information about Revitalise visit www.revitalise.org.uk
Abby Kessock-Philip, Revitalise
Greenemergency
Dear Editor, The UK is now in a green emergency, which I totally agree with. Last month, we saw reports coming out of Delhi, whereby planes were diverted due to the lack of visibility and people were struggling to breathe.
We are working with one hand tied behind our back, and spending billions into the bargain to meet our target.
If India, Russia, the USA and China are not on board, we are just wasting our time, money and energy – it will be like moving Ben Nevis with a shovel. Tommy Colquhoun, By email
Giftoftime
Dear Editor, British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) is appealing for local volunteers to help support blind and partially sighted people.
The charity provides free, specially adapted radios to blind and partially sighted people, and is looking for radio supporter volunteers to visit their homes and support them to use their new device.
Volunteering really is a great way of giving back to your community; this is a rewarding and flexible role, you can do it a time to suit you and you will come away knowing you have made a real positive difference to someone’s life.
For details, email sophie@blind.org. uk or call 07540 724063. Sophie Wheldon, BWBF
Support for veterans
Dear Editor, As we look forward to the festive period and temperatures continue to drop, we must spare a thought for those who have served our country but find themselves homeless.
Research shows around 300-400 veterans end up on the streets every year, and up to 4000 require urgent support to find accommodation.
Under the armed forces covenant, veterans have access to enhanced housing support, but far too many still fall through the gaps and miss out on this.
The No Homeless Veterans campaign (www.nohomelessveterans.org.uk), funded by the Forces in Mind Trust, calls on local authorities, homelessness charities and advice agencies to “think veteran” when people approach them in housing need, in order to effectively identify former servicemen and women and channel them through to the best possible support.
The fact that this Christmas there will be veterans sleeping in inappropriate accommodation, in hostels and on the streets, is unacceptable.
By working with local authorities and providing a clear pathway to housing, we can put an end to this and make sure no veteran is without a home at Christmas. Ed Tytherleigh, Confederation of service charities
Appealforstamps
Dear Editor,
I am asking your readers for help raising funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
I am appealing for people to send me used postage stamps. Recycling stamps is such a simple way for people to help raise money for the charity and collecting them is something I have been doing for many years.
If anyone is able to help, I would be grateful if they could cut the stamps from their envelopes (leaving a margin of approximately one centimetre around them) and send them to Myrna Chave, PO Box 91, Virginia Water, Surrey, GU25 9AR.
Your assistance in helping me to support this very worthy cause is greatly appreciated. Myrna Chave, Surrey