Youth trust seek new trustees Call to host party to support kids’ charity
The Livingston Youth Trust are seeking new trustees to join them in deciding how best to support local young people. The trust was set up to give financial support for facilities for sport, recreation, cultural or leisure for young people. It also assists with the further education of any young person in a career connected with the oil industry, within the Livingston area. Additional trustees are being sought to help decide on applications to the trust for funding. The trust meets a minimum of once per year for an AGM, with further meetings set if applications for funding are received. West Lothian Council provides committee and financial management services for the trust. For more information, or to apply to become a member, please contact committee officer Val Johnston on Val. Johnston@westlothian.gov. uk or 01506 281604.
People in West Lothian are being encouraged to mark World Porridge Day on October 10 by throwing a Porridge Party in aid of Mary’s Meals.
The charity, which feeds more than 1.5 million children around the world every school day, is asking West Lothian locals to get together with friends, family, colleagues or schoolmates during the month of October to enjoy a bowl of porridge and raise funds to support its lifechanging work.
Karen Gray, UK director of communications and fundraising at Mary’s Meals, said: “We celebrate World Porridge Day because it is a mug of hot likuni phala, a vitamin enriched maize porridge, that Mary’s Meals serves to thousands of children every school day in countries including Malawi, Zambia and Liberia.
“I hope that people in West Lothian will throw their own Porridge Parties this October and help us to reach even more hungry children around the world.”
Mary’s Meals sets up school feeding programmes in some of the world’s poorest countries. The food attracts children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.
Felicitas, aged nine, is just one of the pupils at Ulisa Primary School, Malawi, who enjoys Mary’s Meals porridge. The nutritious meal sets her up for the day ahead, helping her to focus on her studies and feeding her hopes and ambitions for the future.
A free Porridge Party pack, full of hints and tips for party planning, is available from worldporridgeday. com – where Mary’s Meals has also published Perfect Porridge recipes from some of its favourite celebrities and chefs. Joanna Lumley, Melissa Hemsley and Gary Maclean, Scotland’s national chef and winner of Masterchef: The Professionals, have all taken part.
Gary Maclean said: “A simple bowl of porridge can help chronically hungry children get an education and lift themselves out of poverty. I work in a college and am passionate about helping young people realise their potential, so the work of Mary’s Meals is very close to my heart.” To find out more visit worldporridgeday.com