Donations sought for defibrillators in ambulance ‘black-spots’

The Rural Community Defibrillation Group (RCDG) is raising money to ensure that ambulance ‘black-spot’ areas in Princes Risborough and surrounding villages have defibrillators in place. At present defibrillators are not available locally within many Parishes surrounding Princes Risborough and ambulance response times can be in excess of 12 minutes. The cost of providing a defibrillator is in the region of £1,500. To make a contribution towards this, contact Mark Tubb: 07767770364 / [email protected].

Governors needed for High Wycombe schools

Holmer Green Senior  School and Manor Farm Community Junior School are looking for volunteers with general business skills to join the school’s governing body. This is a great opportunity to give something back to the local community as well as ensuring that local schools are being run effectively and efficiently. It is also a fantastic way to hone your skills in a different setting and learn completely new skills altogether.

Learn more online or by calling 020 7288 9540, or discover the personal and professional benefits of being a school governor in this brochure > 

A local initiative needs your help to launch

By David Dean, Precious Time for Children

Most of us recognise that parent-child engagement is on the decline, mainly due to both parents having to work to meet financial needs. This problem also affects 1.6 million grandparents, who now play an essential and integral role in the upbringing of their grandchildren.

The Precious Time for Children project aims to create a series of audio and printed children’s books that encourage and enhance greater engagement. With much of the project complete, I am looking for the business community to help crowd-fund the final illustrative work necessary to get the books published.

To date, the first story has been written and recorded by BBC staff with full background soundtracks. One section out of the eight that make up the book has been fully illustrated, but illustrations are needed for the final seven sections to complete the book.

Once the project is launched, 50% of the profit from every sale will go directly to three charities: Child Bereavement UK, Dreamflight for Children and The Pepper Foundation.

In return for donations you will receive:

• An audio downloadable version of the story (£5 donation)
• The finished book (£17 donation)
• A first edition copy of the book signed by the author, and the audio downloadable version (£25 donation)
• All of the above plus a limited edition A4 canvass print (£50 donation)
• All of the above plus an acknowledgement in the book (Donations of £100 or more)

For further information please visit our interim website www.precious-time.com or contact me on 01525 222900.

Could you support Adoption UK?

Adoption UK provides support, advice and training to those who adopt a child across the UK. They are developing fundraising partnerships with local and regional business of all sizes. There are a number of ways your business could get involved, including organising a fundraising event on behalf of the charity, taking it on as your charity of the year, or setting up a collection at your workplace. Visit www.adoptionuk.org for more information.

Excel Office Supplies donating a percentage of new customers’ spend to charity

Excel Office Supplies has launched its Charity Partnership Scheme, meaning that charities can earn money by recommending businesses to buy from Excel. How the scheme works from a charity’s perspective: You recommend to a business that they order their company’s stationery from Excel, this business becomes your ‘Charity Partner’ and when they order from Excel you will receive up to 3% of your Charity Partners’ combined spend as a charitable donation from Excel on a monthly basis.

Donate unwanted stationery or office furniture

Excel Office Supplies also work closely with the Clare Charity Centre in Saunderton, home to dozens of charities and not-for-profit organisations. Excel acts as supplier to many of the tenants through a charity buying group, and supports charities by donating unused office supplies. If your business has any unwanted stationery or office furniture, you can donate it to Excel’s 'Free Shop' at the Clare Charity Centre.

For more details about the Charity Partnership Scheme and the ‘Free Shop’ contact Lindsay Horler: 01494 519988 / [email protected]

Pets As Therapy is recruiting trustees: could you join them and make a difference?

Pets As Therapy is a community based charity providing animal assisted therapy. With their registered pets, volunteers visit people in establishments such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, care homes, schools. Pets As Therapy would like to improve the diversity of its Board and is currently looking for a number of trustees with experience and skills in areas such as finance/investment/accountancy, law, charity management and working with volunteers. For more information please contact Anne Clilverd: 01865 793049 / [email protected].

Help the High Wycombe Lions Club celebrate its centenary in 2017

Do you have any events or projects that the High Wycombe Lions Club could assist with and/or sponsor, in order to celebrate and publicise their centenary year in 2017? Contact Lions President Peter Rainer to discuss opportunities for collaboration: [email protected].

Discounted rates in August for Clare Charity Centre conference rooms

Take advantage of The Clare Charity Centre’s special “Midsummer” rates on conference rooms during August: 30% discount on full day bookings or 15% discount on half day bookings on Mondays and Fridays, and 15% discount on full day bookings or 10% discount on half day bookings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please call 0300 777 7000 or email [email protected] and quote “Midsummer” when booking.

Support 4 Kids’ pay-what-you-can-day supports charities

Support 4 Kids deliver therapeutic programmes such as hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for children who, for example, suffer anxiety at school, perhaps because of bullying, or who are frustrated with wetting the bed or constantly biting their nails.

People booking a session with Support 4 Kids’ Tina Elven on the last Friday of each month can also support two local charities at the same time. ‘Pay-what-you-can-day’ takes place on the last Friday of each month and is when people can attend a therapy session at a cost affordable to them, with the money they donate going to two charities, Starlight and 22Crew. Tina asks for a minimum donation of £10, to ensure these charities really benefit.

The next ‘pay-what-you-can-day’ will take place on Friday 28 August. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis and take place in High Wycombe or via Skype. For more information contact Tina Elven at [email protected] or visit the Support 4 Kids website.