Sponsored by [email protected] PawPrints The newsletter for Friends of Paws for Kids Volume Issue44 Winter/Jan - October 2010 Vol:11: 18 Issue 2016 New working title -what’s in a name? In 2015 the board and staff team decided that Paws for Kids as a working title was no longer viable. A victim of its own success, the name is inherently focused on the one service hence the decision to establish an all-embracing title for all four services was agreed. Back in 1997, when a small group of women met in my dining room to discuss the possibility of creating a new type of service to help victims of domestic abuse, we had no idea that Paws for Kids would evolve into the organisation it is today. After lengthy meetings and an away-day brainstorming session, the word ‘Endeavour’ was eventually chosen as a new working title that could take us forward indefinitely. ‘Endeavour’ means to try hard to achieve; “Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something”, and we all felt this reflected both the ethos of the charity and the work ethic of the team. We also like the way we can use key letters of the word to graphically reinforce our mission statement to “End domestic abuse”. Originally, our plan was to provide temporary fostering of pets belonging to families who were accessing refuge accommodation where pets were not allowed. Alongside this the idea was to provide bespoke home-based support for women and children when leaving refuge - helping to reduce the length of time children would be witness to, or subjected to domestic abuse - and that’s how we came up with the name, Paws (pause) for Kids. Paws for Kids remains the registered name with the Charities Commission and nothing else about us has changed apart from the service logos which have been adapted to create an ‘Endeavour family’. We all look upon this as a very positive evolutionary step and we hope you share our enthusiasm. As you may know, during our 18-year lifespan we have now successfully established four core services: Pets Service Safe Haven Outreach Project Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (IDVA) Young Persons Domestic Violence Advisor (YPDVA) C arole Endeavour also reflects our hopes and aims for 2016 We will Endeavour to ensure that our services are accessible and available to assist all sectors of Bolton communities irrespective of ethnicity, gender or sexuality. We will Endeavour to end domestic abuse for people and their pets. 1 Endeavour - our new working title rolled out at the AGM As reported in our Autumn newsletter, we held the AGM together with the review of our work as part of Bolton’s launch of the annual ‘16-Days of Action to End Domestic Abuse’ campaign. This recognises the struggle victims face in leaving an abusive relationship and aims to raise general awareness that help is available. The merry band - Endeavour staff team all smiles for the camera - saying “cheese” but thinking cup cakes. We were delighted that the Mayor of Bolton, Carole Swarbrick was able to open the event, officially launching our new working title. We presented her with a Pets Service certificate sponsoring a dog on her behalf as a token of appreciation for her kind support. The Mayor of Bolton, Carole Swarbrick receiving her sponsor certificate. We had a theatrical production of ‘Black Eyes and Cottage Pies’ by the Mad Theatre Company which highlighted domestic abuse in teenage relationships. Cath Dunn-Cham from Broken Rainbow gave us a presentation to highlight the difficulties faced by people in same sex (LGBT) relationships in accessing appropriate domestic abuse support. Everyone who attended the event was offered a cup cake topped with one of our new service logos (edible) made by the very talented mother of one of our Trustees. We were privileged to be able to close the event with a performance by two women who have come through our services, Arrayah and Eleanor. Arrayah performed a song she has written; ‘She Flies’ with Eleanor accompanying her on the flute. You will be able to purchase a copy of this song later in the year to raise funds for Endeavour projects - information on how to do this will be included in the Spring newsletter. A free tablet for Young Persons Service from Bolton Council Endeavour Young Persons Service were delighted when they were awarded one of 25 tablets by Bolton Council for Voluntary Services. The giveaway initiative helped mark their twenty fifth year celebrations of delivering services in Bolton. The tablets - similar in specification to an iPad with touch screen function - were presented to successful groups to coincide with the national initiative Get Online Week. John Ryan, Head of Customer Service, Bolton Council about to lose his hand. The presentation took place at The Bolton Hub and was led by John Ryan, Head of Customer Service at Bolton Council, who supported the scheme as part of his role to encourage residents and community groups of Bolton to get online and build confidence using their digital skills. 2 Representatives from successful Get Online groups with their tablets - not quite as successful at getting in line. The Young Persons Advisor will use the tablet in oneto-one sessions for interactive work and to view video clips as part of the individual’s support plans, whilst also giving young people information on volunteering, training and job opportunities. On yet another practical level, the tablet will also be used by support workers to help clients who have not got IT equipment in their accommodation to enable them to bid on properties when looking for a Bolton at Home property. Endeavour have their say at the European Parliament In November, three members of Endeavour were given an opportunity by MEP Julie Ward to visit the European Parliament as part of a series of activities that Socialist and Democratic MEPs organised via the Women’s Rights Committee. Julie is a Labour and Co-operative Party Member of the European Parliament for the North West, covering Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. As such she is a member of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. Julie serves on the Parliament's Committee on Gender Equality and Women's Rights. She is also a member of the Labour Party's Policy Commission on Education and Children. “Make do and Mend” - a piece of verbatim theatre by Women’s Voices Project portray candid stories of three women brought together by their love of knitting, sharing experiences of domestic violence. 1 out of 3 women in the EU have suffered from male violence and the EU has a crucial role to play for the progression of equality and a strategy to end Violence Against Women & Girls. We were invited because of our interest in the ongoing campaign to eradicate violence against women in our community and around the world. As an MEP, Julie is able to host visitors at the parliament. The parliament is able to make a contribution towards travel, accommodation and meals for those who are entered into the sponsorship scheme. The sponsored trip gave myself, Linda (our YPDVA) and Maura the chair of our Trustees the opportunity to attend and participate in a number of meetings and discussions on a variety of important issues around violence against women and girls including trafficking. The EU is crucial to the progression of equality and in the fight against VAWG, we were also able to see where and how MEPs work and met progressive feminist MEPs (male, female and LGBTI). This event was part of a wider program of activities in November exploring Violence Against Women & Girls. Julie is well known for her alternative approach, livening up the program by inviting the Women’s Voices Project to come over from the UK to share their latest production which explores genderbased violence. I am sure this was the first time women, babies and their knitting had been part of a European Parliament debate. You can find out more about the Women’s Voices at: www.thewomensvoicesproject.com The wonderful thing about ‘Tigger’ Throughout the year Paws for Kids is supported by In Kind Direct who redistribute products from companies to charities. Sometimes companies find they are over-stocked or discover samples or cosmetically damaged (but usable) goods, or end-of-line items sitting on shelves, taking up valuable warehouse space. In Kind Direct provide a valuable service by gifting products that may have lost a lot of their value in the commercial world, but remain highly valued by their recipients and they mean everything to a small charity like Paws for Kids, especially for children and young people in our Endeavour Safe Haven Project. Donations from In Kind Direct allows us to spend more on delivering our services. Sometimes In Kind Direct go that extra mile, a good example of this being the 2015 Disney ‘Feel the Magic’ Campaign. In Kind Direct working in partnership with Disney stores provided 96 ‘Tigger’ soft toys to Paws for Kids completely free of charge for children being supported by the Endeavour projects. Disney’s ‘Feel the Magic Campaign’ aims to donate thousands more soft toys to children’s charities across the UK. As you can see from the photo, to the children we work with, these toys are priceless. 3 In Kind Direct inspires product giving for social good by re-distributing usable products donated by some of the UK’s best known manufacturers and retailers to charities working in the UK and abroad. For more information visit the In Kind Direct website: www.inkinddirect.org Fundraising News Paws 50 50 Club More so than ever this Christmas we have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and we have been truly amazed and heartened by the kindness demonstrated by local businesses, charities and individuals. Horwich ‘Spirit of Trust’ and Bolton Lions continued their support and made Christmas extra special by providing a special gift for every child referred to the Safe Haven Project and IDVA Service. The pets were not forgotten with Urban Outreach donating Christmas stockings for all the dogs and cats in the Pets Service and also provided ‘Christmas Dinner on Jesus’ hampers for the families we work with who were most in need this Christmas. Everything you could want for a full Christmas meal including extra treats like crackers and chocolates which helps make Christmas special. A special thank you goes to Accountants Cowgill Holloway and their fantastic client, Cerberus Group who once again generously brought a large number of presents to the office. We would also like to thank Cowgill’s longstanding client Mark Hawthorn and his team at Bolton-based Landmark Investments for their very generous cheque. Louise Morris, Pets Service, with Christmas stockings for dogs and cats Rob Lord - Partner at Cowgill Holloway. Joining the 50/50 Club not only gives you the opportunity of winning a cash prize (better odds than the National Lottery) but 50% of all funds raised goes back into the service. The more numbers bought by supporters means larger cash prizes plus financial security for the Pets Service, so it’s win-win all round. Standing Order forms are available by ringing the Paws for Kids office on 01204 394842 or by downloading a form via the Paws for Kids website www.pawsforkids.org.uk Prize Draw Winners Each month we draw 3 lucky winners who receive cash prizes of: 1st prize - £150, 2nd prize - £50, 3rd prize - £25. The following 9 supporters won prizes in the last three 50/50 Club draws. October: First prize £150 Jean Raynor - St Anne’s ticket No. 33 2nd prize £50 Alan Topping - Wigan ticket No. 113 3rd prize £25 Sue Wright - Bolton ticket No. 367 Tickets drawn by Rob at Palace Motors November: First prize £150 E Milman - Horwich ticket No. 416 2nd prize £50 Lyn Jones - Horwich ticket No. 222 3rd prize £25 Kate Williams - Stretford ticket No. 59 Tickets drawn by Rob at Palace Motors Last but not least we would like to express our gratitude to Stephenson Solicitors for toys this Christmas and continued support throughout 2015. A big thank you also goes to the many individuals who helped Santa out by providing gifts and food (you know who you are) with all of your help every one of our families received presents to help make their Christmas extra special. Your support and generosity is truly appreciated. Solicitor Ceri Thomas from Stephensons. e December: First prize £150 Carole Marsden - Horwich ticket No. 3 2nd prize £50 Liz Stanton - Preston ticket No. 151 3rd prize £25 Anita Hardstaff - Horwich ticket No. 69 Tickets drawn by Arrayah Barnes - Bolton Get your newsletter by email If you have access to a computer, why not help us save money on postage, printing and envelopes by receiving your copy of Paw Prints as a pdf to read on screen or print out yourself? To be added to the list email [email protected] By telephone Open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm E-mail addresses [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Tel 01204 Website www.pawsforkids.org.uk How to contact us By post Paws for Kids, PO Box 329, Bolton BL6 7WA 394 842 Fax 01204 399 645 Paws for Kids is supported by: Facebook.com/PawsforKids pawsofficial Paws for Kids is a Registered Charity No.1084861 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No.4070391 Paws for Kids is committed to Equal Opportunities in all aspects of its work. 4
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