Recent updates

The latest news from our projects

  • Latest update. CRSB Activism & Awareness Meeting. 1/3/16

    An update for Calais Refugee Solidarity Bristol

    Feb 27 2016

    Are you feeling angry about what's happening in Calais, upset, distressed? Do you want to put those emotions to good use? Please come to the CRSB Activism & Awareness Meeting on 2 March 7.30pm at the Palestinian Museum, Bristol. We want your ideas of what campaigns and action we can get involved in and your opinions on our plans. 

    Thank you so much for your support, please continue to share and pledge to the project we have nearly 400 backers and have raised £12,829 for aid to Calais and other camps in France. 

    The Camp in Calais lost it’s court case to stop the imminent eviction but they are now appealing the decision.

    The Situation: The imminent eviction of large parts of  the camp nicknamed ‘the jungle’ in Calais comes without a plan or strategy to house the thousands of people there. There are around 6,500 people in the camp and only 1,500 spaces for them to move to.  Hundreds of these are unaccompanied children. The area planned for demolition includes the kitchens providing much needed food, the women’s and children’s area . People are living in squalid and unsanitary conditions, barely clinging to their dignity, just across the water from the UK. Of course no one wants the ‘jungle’ to stay. But an alternative is needed, the people in the camps in Europe need stability and safe and legal passage.

    Act Now: Write to any or all of those listed below and ask them to hear the voiceless. Ask them to do what is right .

    Write to Bristol MPs  c/o –House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

    See our News page for details of any direct action or further events organised.

  • Wow! Nearly 500 backers!

    An update for UK festivals team up to raise vital funds for France’s refugee camps

    Feb 24 2016

    Amazing so many of you have pledged and shared the project however we need your help to do more.

    We've extended the project deadline to give more time for us to get the word out and get closer to our target of £25,000. 

    Please could you share the project with your friends and family to help us support the different refugee crisis charities working in very tough conditions on the ground in Calais and Dunkirk.

    Thank you so much! 

     

     

  • Social Impact over the UK

    An update for TheGivingMachine - Be The Key

    Feb 23 2016

    Here's a video using Google Earth showing how many causes are benefitting from free donations via our charity cashback site at www.TheGivingMachine.co.uk . Join in and help us give away even more.

     

  • Pawsome Mews!

    An update for Bristol's First Cat Cafe

    Feb 11 2016

    Dear Supporters,

    We have some good mews for you.

    We have just secured £10000 external funding, giving us £12,660 of total funds raised on our crowdfunding campaign. It brings us so much closer to our funding goal and we still have 40 days left. Pawsome! :)

    We have also updated 3 of our perks: 

    -> Cat-opoly with friends

    -> Private Purrty

    -> Corporate Meow

    You can view them on our campaign (www.fundsurfer.com/catcafe) to learn more.

    And please don't forget to share our campaign with your cat loving friends who would be excited about Cat Cafe coming to Bristol.

    That's all for meow.

     

     

     

     

  • East Herts YMCA helping young people to belong, contribute and thrive

    An update for TheGivingMachine - Be The Key

    Feb 11 2016

    Here's an example of how free donations generated by TheGivingMachine charity cashback site make a difference.  Thank you so much for your support and please do share with your friends and family.

    Robert Purcell, CEO East Herts YMCA

     

    TheGivingMachine team

    :)

  • Diplomatic Council Project website

    An update for E Tuk Tuk for Sri Lanka

    Feb 7 2016

    http://www.diplomatic-council.org/forums-certificates/forums/global-e-mobility-forum/e-three-wheeler-aid-program-for-sri-lanka/

    Visit the projects website for background information and frequent updates.

  • Thank you £1000 reached

    An update for TheGivingMachine - Be The Key

    Feb 5 2016

    Thanks for being brilliant, we're on our way to the goal.  Our video has been seen thousands of times which means more people know about TheGivingMachine.

    Have a great weekend!

    TheGivingMachine Team

  • Campaign Extension

    An update for Bristol's First Cat Cafe

    Feb 2 2016

    Dear Supporters,

    We have an important update to share with you all.

    Over the past 16 days thanks to your support we have raised £2481. We still have a long way to go but we are not giving up. In order for us to reach our funding goal we need more time and have decided to extend the campaign for another 30 days. This means the payment for your pledge will only be processed upon successful completion of the campaign on 22nd March 2016.

    Extending the campaign gives us more time to work on other financial options such as private investment and corporate sponsorships. With this strategy we feel that raising £65,000 is a more realistic and achievable goal.

    Every single one of you has shown amazing support and belief in this project already and for that we are forever grateful and hope that you understand our decision.

  • London businessman saves the day by investing in a GOAT!

    An update for Goats for Sustainable Woodland Management

    Feb 1 2016

    Things just goat very serious down at Tortworth Arboretum. Rebecca Cork, who runs the Tortworth Forest Centre had been raising money to buy some goats for the woodlands. With hours to go they had still not reached their target on Fundsurfer, (a crowd Bristol based crowd funding site)… enter Howard Skidmore, a business man who saved the day by donated £300 and naming one of the goats after his new company TechJunctionUK.

    Howard Skidmore of TechJunctionUK said:

    “As Cyber professionals we value innovation & understand that a technical solution often isn’t the best response. The team at the Tortworth Forest Centre have shown great innovation on two fronts. Firstly, it is an inspired solution to use goats to control Japanese knotweed, the alternatives being machinery & harsh chemicals. Secondly, the usage of Fundsurfer to finance the solution. TechJunctionUK is a new start up too, seeking to signpost tech professionals to technical training courses& cyber jobs. We know all too well that sometimes it’s nice to support the new kid on the block.”

    Tortworth Arboretum is at present being restored by Rebecca Cork and groups of volunteers. Over the last year they have cleared up significant areas of the woodland by hand to encourage new flowers and plant growth and have been able identify many ancient and rare trees.

    Rebecca said:

    ‘We are ecstatic that Howard has stepped in at the 11th hour- we desperately wanted to get some goats to help keep the weeds under control and to have some lovely animals around while we work. Restoring Tortworth Arboretum is a real labour of love, I get immense pleasure in my work, and in seeing the volunteers who come and help each week. We can’t wait to welcome TechJunctionUK to the woods. Although she might get nickname of TJ!’

    Tortworth Forest Centre is a not for profit community interest company which aims to improve lives by reconnecting people with nature. Working with children, parents and more specific groups including people recovering from alcohol dependency, they offer volunteer days and wild weekends all of which are held in the beautiful surroundings of the arboretum at Tortworth, which is owned by www.woodlands.co.uk.

    For further info and interviews contact:

    Dee Macdonald- Marketing & PR : 07791 860 954

    Rebecca Cork: Tortworth Forest Centre: 07717 201 329

    www.tortwortharboretum.org www.TechJunctionUK.com

  • Good News - Cute Meows from Holly Hedge

    An update for Bristol's First Cat Cafe

    Jan 28 2016

    Dear Cat Lovers!!

    We got some good news!

    Many of you have been asking about our cats and where they will be coming from. Our kitties will be coming from Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, Bristol Based Shelter.

    After speaking with the owner we decided to work together.

    You&Meow will be a foster for those unwanted cats who desperately need new loving home. We will provide the space for the cats, so they don't need to wait in the cages instead.

    All cats will be available for adoption. Adoptions will go through Holly Hedge who will carry on with their required adoption process (home checked etc.). Cats well-being and finding them safe, fuurever loving home will be our priority.

    That's all for meow.

    Have a pawsome day and please keep sharing our campaign :)