Girls And Education: Why Education For Girls Is So Important

We all know that education is one of the most important factors in improving the life chances of children. But for many around the world access to education is limited or non-existent, and often this is based on factors such as family wealth, whether they live in urban or rural areas, their ethnicity and their gender. 

Sadly, when it comes to girls and education the statistics are worrying to say the least. Worldwide 1 in 5 girls are denied an education. In Africa as a whole about 43% of girls are in lower secondary education, and in certain countries and regions these numbers are much worse. 

What many people don’t realise is that educating girls has an enormous impact on more than the individual. If a girl is educated, even just to primary school level, it has stunning implications for their

Saturday Caption... The One With The Mr Wearing Makeup

The Mr decided to do his bit for charity so he decided to #ManUpAndMakeup.

His t-shirt is quite appropriate, don't you think...

Give Up To Give Back

This year Plan are hoping to increase the number of child sponsors through a campaign called 'Give Up to Give Back'. They're encouraging people to give up some of the small things in their lives that they could do without and re-investing the money they have saved in making a massive difference to a child's life through child sponsorship. 

Just a few pounds a week really isn't a lot; just a coffee and cake!

    

 I've given up wine and signed up to donate £15 each month to Plan. Not only will this be

Sport Relief Support from SSE

Sport Relief returns this March 2014 with hundreds of organised events to get the nation active, all while raising vital funds in the process.

Sport Relief is held every other year and was launched back in 2002 alongside Comic Relief.
In 2012 alone it raised a jaw dropping £67.9 million - It's certainly something to
shout about!

Regardless of whereabouts you live there is likely to be a sponsored swim, cycle or run nearby that you can get involved with, and if not you can always arrange your own! It's a great way to bring communities together while doing something positive to help the lives of others. There are even well known celebs doing their bit and helping to inspire you to do something for a worthy cause too!


How You Can Help – The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games


The Mile
It’s time to put your best foot forward and take part in the first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games by doing the Mile on Sunday 23rd March 2014. With hundreds of events across the UK, including our landmark Mile at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, there’s bound to be a venue near you. You can choose to walk, jog or run one, three or six miles, which means there’s something for everyone, sporty or not. 

The Swimathon
Dive in and enter the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games by doing the Swimathon on the weekend of Friday 21st to 23rd March 2014. It’s the UK’s biggest swimming event and is taking place at hundreds of venues around the UK, including the Swimathon at the Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. You’ll be making every mile count because the money you raise will help change lives.

The Cycle
It’s time to get on your bike and take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games by doing the Cycle on Sunday 23rd March 2014. You can choose from one of our three cycle rides in London, Manchester and Glasgow. It’s your chance to pedal your way to a medal and really make those miles count by helping change lives.  


If none of these activities appeal to you, or a hectic life style or injury prevent you from taking part, you can always order your free fundraising kit and wear sports clothing to work, do a sponsored silence or have a waxing session at the beauty salon.

Anything goes and everything helps.
Have fun, get fit and do something good for someone else.

Support from SSE

SSE, an official partner, is pledging to support Sport Relief this year as they too are keen to help transform the lives of some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people both on your doorstep in the UK and around the world.

There are just a few simple steps you can follow and you can do it from the comfort of your own home!


• For every customer that signs up for paperless bills or Direct Debit SSE will donate £2 to Sport Relief. You can save yourself money while helping others - bonus!

• If you aren't an existing SSE costumer you can take a quick survey on energy efficiency to see if you can save money on your bills which again will mean an additional £2 donation from SSE to Sport Relief.

• Furthermore, SSE will be donating £2 for every registration to SSE Reward, where you will receive special benefits and rewards and the chance to win tickets to some amazing UK sporting events.

** You can get involved right up until Monday 24th by visiting the SSE’s Sport Relief page **

What will you be doing for Sport Relief this year?

*Sponsored by SSE*

Rebuilding the Philippines

In the wake of the utter devastation left by the path of Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippine’s is in desperate need. Entire villages and cities were brought to utter desolation by the storms and flash floods, and now relief efforts attempt to provide millions of displaced families with accommodation, medication and food.

Charities like Plan UK are doing all they can to supply the victims of this disaster with clean drinking water, food and vaccinations, but much more still needs to be done. Many people have been left with absolutely nothing, as the storms were too strong for the majority of buildings in their path, leading to extensive damage to homes and livelihoods, often beyond repair. In these cases, temporary accommodation is needed. However, in some cases not all has been lost. A shelter kit can help a family rebuild their lives, but this is only possible through much needed donations. 

Extra staff from other charity offices in Asia are flying into the Philippines to help colleagues with aid distribution in what is potentially the worst natural disaster the country has ever experienced. Although typhoons, floods and earthquakes are expected in the Philippines, nothing of this magnitude has ever struck before in living memory. The Philippines was already in need of aid, having just suffered the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol in October. Now, as a result of Super Typhoon Haiyan, this need has become even more desperate. 

Homes, schools and family livelihoods have been completely destroyed in many cases, leaving children without a sense of stability and parents with no source of income. Temporary schooling has been constructed in many afflicted areas and school resources have been replaced, allowing children to return to a sense of normality and allowing teachers back to work. Make-shift hospitals have also been set up where necessary to administer much-needed vaccinations and prevent the spread of infection. Even basic necessities, such as clean drinking water, were unavailable to the victims of this disaster before help arrived.

You too can be a part of the solution by helping these charities to continue to give much needed aid to those affected in the Philippines. Anything you give will be appreciated and will make a difference to these people’s lives. Just £4 will cover the cost of a water kit for one family for an entire month, providing parents and children with much needed clean, safe drinking water. You can help to keep these children and their families healthy with £25 for a hygiene kit for a whole family for one month. If possible, you could also help to rebuild the Philippines, as £80 provides a full shelter kit for one family.

No amount of money is too small to give, and every donation helps to rebuild people’s lives. Contact a charity such as Plan UK today to see what you can do to get involved and help rebuild the Philippines. 

Visit http://www.plan-uk.org.

*PR Collaboration*

Make 2014 a Better Year for Someone

Our New Year’s resolutions are always the same, aren’t they? Get fit, lose weight, give up smoking…

Self-improvement is all very well and good, but what if you could do more? What if you could make someone else’s life better in 2014? 

With child sponsorship, you can do just that, and bask in the satisfaction that at least one of your resolutions will be going to plan. 

Charities all over the UK use child sponsorship programs to help change the lives of children worldwide. Being a child sponsor gives you a unique insight into the life of a child in a developing country, and over time you will be able to watch your sponsored child benefit from your kindness and generosity as they continue to improve their lives. 

Letters, photos and reports from your sponsored child and charity will help you see the difference you are making in that child’s life and the impact your contribution has. 

You are free to write to your sponsored child and see how they are doing. In fact, most charities encourage this, as the letters help to improve the child’s literacy skills and help you to establish a connection with your sponsored child. Also, reading a letter from someone miles away who cares about them and is willing to support them is priceless to these children, and can help to motivate them in their ambitions. 

Start off the New Year by making an immediate improvement to a child’s life. When you sign up for child sponsorship, you will be given the choice of sponsoring either a boy or a girl. You will receive a profile of your sponsored child as well as photos of them and their family. You will also receive guidance on writing to your sponsored child as well as writing materials. 

Just knowing that someone else cares about their fate and is sending some of their hard-earned cash to help them improve their lives means a great deal to these children and their families. For the minimal cost of 50 pence a day, you could help change a child’s life forever. 

The money you donate goes towards projects that will best benefit your sponsored child and the needs of their community, be it agricultural training, renovating wells for clean water, building and restoring schools or providing immunisations. Most importantly, the emphasis is placed not on hand-outs, but on helping the community to take ownership of these projects so they can help themselves out of poverty and become stronger as a community for the benefit of themselves, their children and future generations. 

Make your New Year’s resolution one you won’t give up on this year, and help change the lives of a child and their family for the better. Your contribution will make a difference not only today, or for the next year, but for many years to come due to the projects that your generosity can help fund and sustain. 

Visit http://www.plan-uk.org/sponsor-a-child today.

*Sponsored Guest Post*

Red Nose Day

This Red Nose Day (15th March) marks the 25th anniversary of the event and with over £600m raised for people in the UK and Africa it is something worth celebrating.
We have already ordered t-shirts and noses from the online store to help raise funds and we have bought cake toppers for some baking fun too!

2011 Red Nose Day

A group of 3 bloggers have headed out to Ghana this week to see how the funds raised have been spent over the years to better the lives of over 50 million people! You can find out more about this via #TeamHonk and #GoodWork on Twitter or on their website Team Honk.

Will you be doing anything that is funny to raise money? 

You can order a fundraising kit for free today!

There are some great dinosaur themed games for little ones on the Red Nose Day website too.

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Noses

Plan - sponsor a child and make a difference

If you are looking at helping others more or donating to a charity this year Plan UK may be the perfect option for you.

You can find out a little more on Plan UK and how your support will help:

If you wish to sponsor a child or find out more information on Plan, you can head over to their website.

http://www.plan-uk.org/sponsor-a-child/

Books - The Gallery

We are all little book worms in the family, especially the Mini Mes who read at school, as soon as they get home and again before bed. I tend to use my kindle these days as it's easy to pop in my bag but I do have many books in drawers and stashed away in my room that make an appearance quite regularly. We have lots from colouring and puzzle books, stories, craft and cook books.

Earlier this year Minxy decided she wanted to raise money for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust after reading about the orphaned elephants in her magazine. She decided to read 50 books in 50 days as part of a read-a-thon and she aimed to raise £100. She received a few kind donations including a lovely bundle from Top That Publishing and she managed to raise £184 for the charity. If your little ones read Animals and You magazine she is being featured again soon with her story!

Jamster and Minxy also enjoyed dressing up for world book day with two of their favourite books.

The Gallery Theme this week is Books

It only takes ONEMum

I've just signed up to ONE and the fight against extreme poverty. I'd like you to join me.

By supporting ONE, you have the opportunity to take action to support effective, proven initiatives that are delivering results in the poorest places on the planet: protecting families from preventable diseases like AIDS and malaria, putting children in school, providing economic opportunity and stabilising communities. 

Join me and millions of people around the world who believe that where you live shouldn't determine whether you live:

http://www.one.org/join

Together as ONE we can make a difference!

How you can be a #ONEMum Community Partner 

• Have a good search of the ONE website and learn about their rich history. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and here is loads of links to good and easy to digest information. 
• Blog about ONE to raise awareness and promote their latest campaign, see HERE. 
• Add your link to the BritMums #ONEMums Linky below to help raise awareness about ONE and encourage people to sign up. 
• Blog about the journey Mich and Jen are taking and share some of their posts that way. See HERE for all the posts tagged Ethiopia on Mich’s blog and HERE and HERE for the ones on the BritMums blog. 
• Write a blog to contribute to the ONE blog, this could give you exposure to a whole new audience! 
• Tweet or RT any posts to do with the journey and ONE. Use the hashtags #ONEMums and #ONEMoms (we’re using both tags to reach the Community Partners in the US too). 
• Facebook/ Google + share any posts or use your status to raise awareness, encourage people to sign up. 
• Pin any posts that have the #ONEMums and #ONEMoms hashtags. 
• Talk to your family and friends about what you are doing. 
• Use the email template HERE to send a message to your contacts. 
• Place a widget in your sidebar so people can directly sign up to ONE, or display a banner/ badge (various sizes/ available)

Bigjigs Rail World Record Attempt

The lovely people over at Bigjigs Rail have decided to raise funds for the Chatham Dockyard Locomotive Restoration Fund and Demelza House Children's Fund by attemptting to break a world record!




The attempt to create a wooden train track of 2012 metres will take place on Thursday 26th July at the Chatham Dock with the grand unveiling at 4pm. Using a massive 10,000 pieces of track they want to beat the current record of 1650 metres - will you be there to see it? You can watch from 10am!

You can help to raise funds for these charities by sponsoring a piece of track for just £1. If you can't attend on the day you can sponsor the track by visiting their Just Giving Sponsor Page. You will also receive a commemorative certificate for doing so if you provide your email address!

You can follow Bigjigs Rail to see their progress and planning on Facebook, Twitter, their blog and Pinterest.

We have sponsored them and wish them the best of luck!!

Project 366, 166/366 - Famous

Not only did Minxy appear in the local paper today, but she was on the cover. Kids in her playground have already mentioned seeing her and it's gone to her head a little... she's famous apparently. Bless her!

Spot The Pig!

Sarah Brown founded Piggy Bank Kids back in 2002 which is a charity to help improve the lives of babies and children throughout the UK.

To celebrate their tenth anniversary they are running a photo comp #spotthepig where you can tweet and blog 5 piggy pictures (real pigs, pig drawing, piggy banks etc) for a chance to win a bundle of signed books, a signed piggy bank and some goodies from Molton Brown! Two runners up will also receive signed piggy banks so why not give it a go!





Our entries:

This picture won the competition!!

Sarah will be at Britmums Live! on 22nd-23rd June where you have the opportunity to head to the decorate-a-piggy stand to decorate your very own piggy! Have you got your tickets yet?

If you wont be attending you can still join in with the competition. Just remember to tweet your pig picss with the hashtag #spotthepig to @PiggyBankKids before 24th June. Winners will be announced on Twitter on 29th June and chosen by Sarah Brown and Nicky Cox editor of children's magazine First News.

Good luck!!

Project 366, 157/366 - Reading

I'm so proud of minxy. She has been doing her daily reading for her readathon for 5 days now (only 45 to go) and Jamster has been involved too helping to choose her books to read each day. She has already met her £100 target for charity!

Project 366, 150/366 - Readathon

My daughter has a subscription to Animals and You magazine and the latest edition has some information on the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and how they try to help orphaned animals. Minxy and her love of animals, hence the animal themed subscription, had asked to sell lemonade to raise money to help the charity (too much looney tunes and ICarly maybe) which I said wasn't really possible. She then suggested a sponsored read - great idea! She loves reading so between us we thought that reading 50 books in 50 days would be the best option.

We took this picture this evening to use as her image for her just giving sponsor page ready for her readathon to begin on 1st June.

If you would like to sponsor her please visit www.justgiving.com/chloesreadathon - she and I would really appreciate your support.