January 2016 - Paws for Kids

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