Charities

Hey guys, welcome to February, the month of Valentine’s day and big thick jumpers and snuggling by the fire! Love it! I want to introduce you to the Peter Tatchell Foundation. I have known of Peter’s work for quite some time and couldn’t speak more highly of the gentleman that he is and also the passion and drive which has led his campaigns for so many years. If only he was at the top we would live in a much more equal and fair society where every man, woman and child would be treated with the same respect and dignity! So here is a salute to Peter and his foundation – please support them in whatever way you can. Loads of love, your auntie Gok x

The Peter Tatchell Foundation (PTF) seeks to promote and protect the human rights of individuals, communities and nations, in the UK and internationally, in accordance with established national and international human rights law.

The aims and objectives of the PTF are to raise awareness, understanding, protection and implementation of human rights, in the UK and worldwide. This involves research, education, advice, casework, publicity, lobbying and campaigning for the enforcement and furtherance of humanitarian statutes and values.

The human rights aims and objectives of the PTF are charitable and with a public benefit. The PTF is independent and non-party political. Peter Tatchell is the current director of the Foundation and has been campaigning for Human Rights for over 47 years.

The PTF has spoken out for human rights in the UK and globally. In the last year in the UK, we helped win same-sex marriage and secure the scrapping of two legislative threats to free speech and freedom of expression.

We are now working on new initiatives to challenge homophobia in sport, create dialogue with Muslim communities and expand our Education in Human Rights programme in schools and universities. Globally, we are raising awareness about the anti-gay law and human rights abuses in Russia and challenging homophobia within the Commonwealth.

As our human rights endeavours go from strength to strength, requests for advice, information and support grow ever greater. Increasingly, these requests come not just from within the UK but from all parts of the world. To find out more about our work please visit our website: www.petertatchellfoundation.org .

Can you help us?
We are urgently needing funds to continue our operation. The PTF depends entirely on individual donations we do not receive any statutory funding. £10 a month could help us provide advice to victims of discrimination and hate crimes but whatever you can give is greatly appreciated.

You can donate here: www.petertatchellfoundation.org/donate.

You can join the Peter Tatchell Foundation here to be kept updated with our latest actions.

Follow @PT_Foundation on Twitter

Find PeterTatchellFoundation on Facebook

Happy 2014 everyone! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas break. I want to introduce you to my first Charity of the Month for 2014 and I think you’ll agree it’s an important one. It’s Migraine Action. And it needs your support because many don’t understand how debilitating it can be. Read on and find out what you can do to help.

Lots of love my darlings

Gok xxx

Migraine Action: the national support and advisory charity people affected by migraine

Today an estimated 190,000 people in the UK will suffer a migraine attack.

Migraine Action is a national charity which provides advice, information and emotional support to children and adults with migraine and their families.

Sometimes people ask “why do you need a charity for migraine?”

The misconception is that migraine is just a bad headache – in reality it can be a hugely debilitating condition which can leave those affected unable to work and facing the breakdown of personal relationships. Symptoms can include a severe, often one-sided headache, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, noise and smell, numbness or tingling of the limbs, confusion and speech difficulties. Without support migraine can severely impact on an individual’s quality of life and that of their family.

Migraine Action supports the one in seven people with migraine. It’s services – which include a telephone helpline, over 100 different leaflets, access to a specialist nurse, websites for adults and children and a youth engagement project to educate and reduce the burden of migraine for the next generation – are described as “a lifeline” by users. The charity also supports research, acts as a link between medical professionals and those affected and helps to support specialist centres and services.

New mum Claire (30) from Devon has been affected by migraines since the age of fourteen: “I find my migraines really disabling. I have been subject to formal sickness monitoring in previous workplaces and as a new mum I now struggle to manage my attacks with the need to care for my daughter. In the middle of an attack I have felt I would rather die than continue to experience the pain. The severe lack of awareness about what it is like to live with migraine makes it even harder to cope with. The help of an organisation like Migraine Action is so important.”

The charity receives no funding from the Government or NHS and relies on membership subscriptions, donations and fundraising support to continue.

Need migraine information or support?
For more information on migraine and the charity’s services visit www.migraine.org.uk or call 0116 275 8317. Become a Migraine Action member by visiting www.migraine.org.uk/join

Can you help to raise awareness of migraine?
Many with migraine still suffer in silence. We want to see a migraine information poster up in every GP surgery and pharmacy to help. Could you ask for a poster to be displayed locally or put one up at your place of work, leisure centre, library..? Show your support by ordering your copy: http://www.migraine.org.uk/product/general-migraine-poster/

Help the 8 million migraineurs in the UK
Funds are urgently needed to continue to support the one in seven people with migraine in the UK and to encourage further research into this debilitating condition. Donate by texting MIGR00 and then the amount you wish to donate (i.e. £5 or £10) to 70070 (for example MIGR00 £10).

Follow @MigraineAction on twitter

Join Migraine Action on Facebook

Registered charity number: 1152973

Hello my lovelies! It’s really starting to get Christmassy now, especially as I start panto rehearsals today! Whilst most people are putting up trees and buying presents there seems no better time to put it all in perspective and remember how lucky we are that we and our children are safe, well and free to grow up with all the aspirations and dreams we deserve. Unfortunately this is not the case for millions of children in this country and around the world, which is why I have chosen my charity of the month for December as Save The Children. On December the 13th is Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. I hope, like me, you can find the time and get involved to help children have the start in life they deserve. Thanks guys. hugs and kisses xxx

Save the Children put children at the very heart of what they do, working in 120 different countries across the globe including the UK. The charity is in some of the toughest places in the world on the front line, trying to save children’s lives and protect them from violence. From Syria to the Ivory Coast, from Gaza to the Congo, their work is most visible during emergencies and they responded to 45 emergencies last year alone.

However Save the Children’s mission is much wider and they work in over 100 countries on longer term development projects which help children fulfill their potential through education and help prevent them from dying needlessly from preventable illnesses like diarrhea and malaria. Their lives are being ruined because they don’t receive enough nutritious food in their first two years, stunting them mentally and physically for life.

The charity believes that every child should get the chance to fulfill their potential, wherever they’re born and whatever their circumstances. And they’re helping children here at home get their chance too.

Christmas Jumper Day
On Friday 13th December, Save the Children is calling on people across the UK to help make the world better with a sweater and take part in the tradition of wearing a kitsch Christmas jumper in exchange for a £1 donation to raise money for its life saving work with children the world over.

All money raised from Christmas Jumper Day activities will help save the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. In the world’s poorest countries, more than 7 million children die every year from easily preventable causes. Simple solutions, like vaccines and mosquito nets save lives. Just £3 will buy a mosquito net for a child in South Sudan and only £12 could pay for a child to be vaccinated in Sierra Leone – so by getting friends and colleagues to take part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper day on Friday 13th December and donating £1, you can help make a real difference.

Find out more about Save the Children and their Christmas Jumper Day at christmasjumperday.org or follow them on Facebook facebook.com/ChristmasJumperDay and Twitter @savechildrenuk using hashtag #xmasjumperday

Happy November everyone!

For those of you who haven’t been blown away by the crazy wind we have been having, I want to introduce you to a my very special charity of the month for November: Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

I’m sure all of us know how wonderful and essential a guide dog is for someone with a visual impairment, but I certainly never appreciated how important it must be for someone who is deaf to be made aware of all of the sounds of life we take for granted everyday.

These hearing dogs enable deaf people to become aware of all those important sounds, and enable them to interact with the world so much easier.

Please take a look at this incredible charity and support them in whatever way you can.

Loads of love my darlings

Auntie Gok xxx

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People www.hearingdogs.org.uk is a national charity that trains very clever dogs to assist people who are severely or profoundly deaf. These amazing dogs alert their owners to the sounds of the doorbell, telephone, alarm clock and smoke alarm, and can even be trained to alert new mums to the sound of the baby monitor!

Hearing dogs are life changing, and as well as providing practical support to their deaf recipients, these wonderful four–legged friends offer greater independence and give their deaf person more confidence to connect with the hearing world.

The charity has created over 1,830 life-changing partnerships between deaf adults and children and hearing dogs, and there are currently over 800 working partnerships nationwide.

Let’s Hear It for Deaf Children!

Hearing Dogs also train dogs for deaf children like eight year old Sarah Mohammadi. When Sarah was born, she contracted a viral infection which resulted in hearing loss and some learning difficulties. But it wasn’t until Sarah was two and a half years old that she was diagnosed as severely deaf, by which time she had very little speech.

Sarah became very frustrated trying to communicate with her family, and she so badly wanted to make friends with other children at nursery, but her lack of communication made that difficult. She began to learn British Sign Language, but this didn’t help her to communicate with children in the hearing world.

Up to the age of eight years old, Sarah had never slept in her own bed, as she was too frightened to be alone in silence at night. She would always go into her parent’s room for comfort and security. Extreme tiredness just compounded her frustration at home and school, and she found it difficult to concentrate.

Two weeks before Christmas 2012, Sarah received the gift of a hearing dog; a white Cockapoo called Waffle. The first night that Waffle slept in her bedroom, Sarah slept there for the first time too. She describes him as “the best present I could ever get.”

Sarah’s mum Sabedah describes Waffle’s arrival, “Sleeping in her own room was just, well, wow! I can’t put into words how incredible that was. Sarah has just been so happy to have Waffle there at night. She feels more secure. For a few nights she would wake up just to check he was still there, but now she sleeps soundly. He’s made such a huge difference to Sarah but he’s also changed the quality of our lives too.”

The family has noticed many other changes in Sarah too. Before she had Waffle , Sarah was afraid to talk to new people, “Whenever someone new tried to talk to Sarah, she would hide behind me. Now Sarah will happily take Waffle to the park to play football and when she meets new people she proudly says ‘This is my dog!’ She’s so much more confident, her speech is developing and her real character has come out. Her school teachers say her concentration is better and she is becoming more independent. This is exactly what we wanted for her when we applied for a hearing dog, and Waffle has been amazing.”

Teachers and parents can download our free educational resources and Let’s Hear It fundraising packs at www.hearingdogs.org.uk/letshearit

Sponsor a cute puppy like Pepe!

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People have their own breeding scheme and the training of each dog takes around eighteen months.

However, one particular hearing dog puppy called Pepe had a very tricky start to life. He was part of a litter of seven Cocker Spaniel pups born earlier this year, but his mum Molly did not have enough milk to feed all of them. Within a few days, the puppies were losing weight and were very hungry, and being the smallest pup in the litter, staff worried that Pepe wouldn’t pull through.

Staff and volunteers worked tirelessly through the night, enduring sleepless nights to care for Pepe and took it upon themselves to hand rear and bottle feed him.

Thanks to ongoing patience, love and care, Pepe is now a robust and healthy young dog with a very special future ahead of him, and one day he will become a specially trained hearing dog for a deaf person.

Visitors to Gok Wan’s Fabulous Charities page can now sponsor Pepe’s training as a gift for a loved one – or even sponsor him themselves!

Sponsorship starts from just £3 a month and the welcome pack includes regular updates on Pepe’s progress, a certificate, a ‘pennies for your puppy’ collection kennel, stunning photos and more exciting gifts. Sponsors donating £5 or more per month will also receive a cute and cuddly soft hearing dog toy www.hearingdogs.org.uk/puppysponsorship

Anyone sponsoring a hearing dog puppy before 30th November will also be entered into a prize draw to win £50 worth of Hearing Dog goodies.

Find out more about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People at www.hearingdogs.org.uk or follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/hearingdogs and Twitter @HearingDogs

I don’t even know where to start with Kids Company- they really are a remarkable bunch of people! I had the privilege of working with them when we were filming the documentary Secret Millions. Although together we managed to get them some much needed funding from the National Lottery, sadly its just not enough to support all those kids and families who really suffer everyday- in conditions I didn’t think existed in this country anymore! Please, please, please take a few minutes out of your day to have a look at their amazing work and find out how you can support them!

Big love to you all! xxx

Kids Company was founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996. We provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children.

Our services reach 36,000 and intensively support 18,000 children across London, including the most deprived and at risk whose parents are unable to care for them due to their own practical and emotional challenges. For many, the roles of adult and child are reversed and, despite profound love, both struggle to survive.

These exceptionally vulnerable children not only negotiate significant challenges in their family homes, they also face immense threat within their neighbourhoods. Often they are exposed to relentless violence, some are forced into working as drug couriers or prostitutes, and many experience chronic abuse.

We provide a safe, caring, family environment where support is tailored to the needs of each individual. Our services and support empower children who have experienced enormous challenges to lead positive and fulfilling lives. Despite great difficulties, the children we work with are hugely courageous and embrace the support we offer.

In 2007 Kids Company was awarded the Liberty and JUSTICE Human Rights Award. In 2010 we were selected as a ‘Child Poverty Champion’ by the End Child Poverty project for our success in enabling children to achieve their full potential.

Poverty Busting

Many of the 18,000 children and young people that we support live in exceptional poverty and have experienced chronic neglect and abuse. We see the impact of such acute deprivation at our centres every day, which is why we need your help to restore dignity and hope to these courageous children.

Our Child Poverty Busting Programme strives to get the basics in place so that our young people feel empowered to improve their lives. Some children lack a bed to sleep in, warm clothes, and are surviving their childhood without food in their homes.

Whether you can help with practical items like furniture or new clothing, or help raise funds, or offer some of your time – we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at povertybusting@kidsco.org.uk to discuss how you can get involved. Unfortunately we cannot accept any second hand goods.

Alternatively, you can buy items right away from our John Lewis gift list. They will go directly into the homes of our young people, overseen by our team. (Gift list number: 539419.)

We thank you wholeheartedly for your kind support.

Gladrags and Handbags

Kids Company and Grazia Gladrags & Handbags Designer Fashion Sale 11th – 13th October 2013
On 11th – 13th October, Kids Company and Grazia are joining forces for Gladrags & Handbags, our annual three day designer fashion sale!

Gladrags & Handbags will take place at the Loading Bay Gallery, Old Truman Brewery, Dray Walk E1, just off Brick Lane.
Supporters will be able to lay their hands on stunning clothing, bags and accessories from top brands including Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Vivien Westwood, Paul Smith, Mulberry, Reiss, and many more, at amazingly reduced prices. All items are donated with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Kids Company.

The event will raise money for our Christmas period, when we will be supporting over 4,000 of London’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families on Christmas day. Each child will receive gifts and a yummy Christmas meal as well as a party with games and entertainment for all. We will also provide food gift bags for over 7,500 people in the hope of easing the stress during what can be a very difficult time of year.

Loading Bay Gallery, Old Truman Brewery, E1

Nearest tube: Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street or Aldgate East

Opening times:
Friday 11th October: 9am – 8pm
Saturday 12th October 10am – 6pm
Sunday 13th October 11am – 5pm

Hi Guys, its September and I would like to introduce you to my charity of the month Beat (beating eating disorders). This is a charity which is very close to my heart as they are exactly the type of support network I could only have dreamt of when I was growing up and having to deal with my own eating disorder. September is a particularly important time for all of those of you going into a new school year and the pressures that come with that. Whether it is you, a friend or a relative who has an eating disorder, or you want to help fund raise you really should get in touch with these guys! They are amazing and trust me everyone deserves to be happy and confident in who they are, what they eat and what they want to be, and these guys can help you achieve that.

Take care my lovelies

Gok xxx

Beat www.b-eat.co.uk is the national charity supporting people affected by eating disorders and campaigning on their behalf. Over 1.6 million men and women of all ages and backgrounds in the UK are affected by eating disorders.

About eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses and include anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and one in five of the most seriously affected will die prematurely. The sooner someone gets the treatment they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery.

About Beat
Beat aims to change the way people think about eating disorders, challenge the stigma people with eating disorders face and campaign for better services and treatment. We provide helplines for adults and young people, a UK wide network of self help and support groups and online support including information, message boards, live chat and online support groups. Beat also provides expert knowledge, education and training to health and social care professionals and supports and encourages research into eating disorders.

The Shape of Fashion – positive body image summit, Wednesday 18 September 2013
As a finale to London Fashion Week (13 – 17 September), Beat is hosting a high profile body image debate and Q&A session. The event, to be held at ASOS’ prestigious art deco offices in Camden on Wednesday 18 September, will feature a panel including a representative from ASOS as well as Beat’s Chief Executive Susan Ringwood, a Beat Young Ambassador and model Georgina Wilkin. The Shape of Fashion is taking place on Wednesday 18 September 6pm – 8pm at ASOS’s head office, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7FB. Tickets are priced at £10 with a discounted rate of £5 for students. Click here to find out more

Become a MyBeat member
We rely on fundraising and donations to support our long term core services. One way people can support us is by becoming a MyBeat member. Members have the opportunity to become more involved in our work, join a network of support and information and access the latest news and advances in research. Annual membership is just £25 and members receive regular e-newsletters, Upbeat our supporter magazine, opportunities to take part in research and surveys, chances to make your voice heard and invitations to supporter events. Anyone who signs up to become a MyBeat member in September will be placed into a draw to win a signed copy of Gok’s cookbook.

Self esteem workshops
We work with Dove to provide self esteem education to young people in schools across the UK. The free workshops aimed at 11-14 year olds build positive self esteem and provide a platform for group discussion on image related concerns. To sign up, schools can register online

Emotional overeating
We also support people struggling with emotional overeating issues and are setting up emotional overeating support groups for people who binge eat, compulsively overeat, feel they have emotional eating issues or are overweight, obese or struggling with their weight. The first groups will be set up in Norwich, Sandwell and Derby in September with further groups opening in 2014.

Supporting people at times of transition
We are currently running a project to support young people during transitions – a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Transitions represent a time of change in someone’s life such as moving between services, leaving specialist treatment services and adapting to major life changes e.g. leaving school, starting university or living independently. Our aim is to reduce the number of young people who relapse following treatment and the project gives young people the opportunity to talk openly about their difficulties with Recovery Buddies – trained volunteers who themselves have recovered from an eating disorder.

Young Ambassadors
We have a national network of Young Ambassadors, volunteers aged 14-25 with personal experience of eating disorders. Trained and supported by Beat staff, they have established an excellent reputation for speaking out about their experiences in the media and at conferences and events, helping to reduce the stigma and educate others. Young Ambassador Risha said: “I became an ambassador to inspire others that recovery is possible and spread awareness. I wanted to do something positive and creative. The scheme has allowed me to grow as an individual and make a change, challenge others and stamp out the stigma.”

Beat’s vision is simple: eating disorders will be beaten.
Help us to make this vision a reality. To make a donation, text UAUA05 followed by the amount you’d like to give to 70070. You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10.

You can follow us on Twitter @beatED and join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/beating.eating.disorders

Happy Summertime my lovelies!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful, sun-filled summer and either enjoying your school holidays, or taking a break somewhere amazing!!!

It’s time to tell you about my charity of the month for August. They are the incredible Stroke Association. Now these guys are doing one hell of a job to help us understand more about what strokes are and also helping those who have suffered. You may not know, but three times more women die of a stroke every year than those who die of breast cancer…thats how serious this is guys. Please read on to find out how you can help this amazing charity and make a huge difference to so many peoples lives.

Love you guys xxx

The Stroke Association is the UK’s leading stroke charity. Stroke is one of the greatest health challenges we face. But no one ever thinks it will happen to them.

What is a stroke?
A stroke is like a heart attack in the brain.

It happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off and the cells are damaged or die. In the UK, someone somewhere has a stroke every five minutes. Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age. And it is devastating.

Who do we help?
Rachel Inglefield, 40, is a mum of two. Just twelve days after giving birth to her baby boy, James, she had a stroke. You can watch her story here.

Children and even babies can have strokes too. We feel privileged to support hundreds of amazing children who have had to rebuild their young lives after stroke. Meet the little girl who won the Children’s Courage Award at our Life After Stroke Awards 2013, eight-year-old Charlotte Neve.

Nobody is immune from stroke, including Hollywood stars. Mum of three, Sharon Stone, had a near-fatal stroke when she was just 41.

Sharon is a supporter of the Stroke Association and says:

“Many people think that strokes only happen to old people. But that’s just not true, in fact, strokes happen to young people and often to young women.”

Five things you didn’t know about stroke
Stroke kills three times more women every year in Britain than breast cancer.

More women than men have strokes.

18,000 British women of working age have a stroke every year.

400 children and babies a year have a stroke – that’s more than one a day.

More people than ever are surviving stroke and there are now over one million stroke survivors in the UK.

Wear a Stroke Solidarity String!
Saving thousands of lives and preventing lifetimes of disability start with awareness. That’s why we created our Stroke Solidarity String. It’s a symbol to show you are stroke-aware and support the Stroke Association. Buy a string like our celebrity supporter, comedian Russell Kane, and wear it, show it, share it.

Get your Stroke Solidarity String on our website now

Elsewhere in fashion-land, Style for Stroke sees award-winning style PR expert and long-standing Stroke Association supporter Nick Ede launch a new initiative bringing the glamorous worlds of style, celebrity and fashion together to help raise money and awareness for the charity. Upcoming collaborations include partnerships with the luxury nail varnish brand Ciate, cool bag makers Zatchel and handwash and lotion supremos Bayliss and Harding.

Donate
Just text STROKE 3 to 70300 and donate £3 today. It only takes a couple of seconds to make a BIG difference.

100% of your text donation goes to the Stroke Association.

Or you can donate via our website

If you would like to learn about the terms and conditions for donating by text please visit How your support helps on our website.

We love making new friends! Stay in touch with us.

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Visit us at stroke.org.uk

Hello my lovelies! I want to introduce you to my charity of the month for July: WellChild. This really is a charity which is close to my heart as I have recently become god parent to my best friend’s child and it has reinforced just how priceless a child’s life is… and also how fragile! WellChild help provide the support that every child deserves – the best – no matter where they are from and what they may have wrong with them! Please read on and find out how you can support them! Thanks for reading my darlings! Kisses xxx

WellChild is the national charity for sick children and helps some of society’s most seriously ill children and young people. We have WellChild Children’s Nurses around the country helping children and their families right now – and with your support we will be able to reach even more!

WellChild helps children like little Noah who has a condition so rare he is the only baby in the UK to have been diagnosed with it.

He has problems with his windpipe and a very rare form of lung disease. Noah endured numerous medical procedures to try to improve his condition, including a tracheostomy to open his airway, and was put on a ventilator which he requires 24/7 to help him breathe. Someone with the right training needs to monitor this the whole time to ensure Noah’s airway remains clear.

But, after months in hospital, Noah has been able to return home to live with his family with the right care in place thanks to the help and support of WellChild Children’s Nurses.

Noah’s mum Jill said: “I cannot speak highly enough of our WellChild Nurse Katie and what she has done for us as a family. The transition home was so much easier under her care and she continues to help us tremendously.

“WellChild Nurses are worth their weight in gold. The support that they give is unrivalled.”

WellChild’s commitment is that every child in the UK, no matter what their situation, location or diagnosis, should have the very best possible quality of care.

The charity, which has Prince Harry as its Patron, funds a unique team of WellChild Children’s Nurses who play an essential role for families across the UK. Those WellChild Nurses help to ensure that children can be cared for at home rather than in hospital wherever possible and make sure that families are able to meet the needs of these young people.

In addition, WellChild funds a number of other projects designed to provide support to families. This includes the charity’s unique Helping Hands scheme which tackles individual home development projects – helping seriously ill children, young people and their families in truly practical ways.

WellChild also has a successful history of funding important and ground-breaking research aimed at improving treatment and care for children and young people. WellChild’s programmes have helped many thousands of children and families and we are determined to reach many thousands more. www.wellchild.org.uk

If you would like to make a donation to WellChild to help our work with seriously ill children. You can donate by texting ‘WELL33’ followed by the amount you’d like to give to 70070. You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10.

Follow @wellchild on Twitter https://twitter.com/wellchild

Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WellChildUK

Hello my darlings! It’s that time of the month when I get a little bit serious about life! If only it could be all fun and games. But the truth is that there are many people out there in need of help, comfort, consolation and knowledge. We are so lucky that in 2013 we can call on so many charities to help those in need. Some of the most important ones are those that open our eyes to the problems and illnesses that are around us every day but we neglect to see – and these things are what we need to fight the most! Prostate Cancer UK is relentless in their fight and I would love you guys to read on and find out how you can get involved and potentially save lives!

Hugs and kisses, Gok xxx

Prostate Cancer UK www.prostatecancerUK.org wants to get people talking. Talking about a disease that kills one man every hour, 10,000 every year, a disease which is already the most common cancer in men and is predicted to become the most prevalent of all cancers in the UK by 2030.

Despite these ‘killer’ facts, prostate cancer is simply not on the nation’s radar. Most men understand little about it or the risks they face as they get older. There is also a very real legacy of neglect to overcome within healthcare and research. Tests for diagnosing prostate disease are often unreliable, there are widespread disparities in care, and many men are faced with a confusing array of treatments which often carry big risks of damaging side effects.

For too long, men have had a raw deal. It is time for this issue to be pushed right to the top of the UK’s health agenda. And Prostate Cancer UK has made a fantastic start.

The prostate gland is only the size of a walnut. But it can mean big trouble and something pretty huge is needed to crack this problem. Earlier this year, Bill Bailey launched our Sledgehammer campaign which challenged everyone to grasp the scale of the disease and to appreciate the impact it has on too many men, their loved ones and friends.

But that was just the beginning.

This month will see the next stage – an amazing awareness campaign around Father’s Day, June 16th, leading up to the TV premiere of a star-studded drama.

Our aim is to get people talking – and not just men. We know that men don’t like talking about serious health problems… especially those ‘below the belt’, so we want the women (and partners) in their lives to start those conversations. We want ’significant
others’ to sign up to the Stand By Your Man pledge. We need them to talk to the men they care for about the risks of prostate cancer. Whether it’s a partner, father, son, brother, cousin, friend or workmate, we need Other Halves to take the Stand By Your Man pledge.

We know that nearest and dearest can make a real difference. 250,000 men are living with prostate cancer and that number is rising at an alarming rate. It’s as big an issue for men as breast cancer is for women. The breast cancer movement is an inspiration to Prostate Cancer UK. We need to create that same galvanizing sense of momentum and inspiration. And we want men’s Lovers and Others of every hue to help drive that. Please pledge to Stand By Your Man, however many men you care about.

What is our ultimate purpose?

To help more men survive and enjoy a better quality of life. We believe men deserve better.

What do we want?

The best diagnosis, treatment and support for all men with prostate cancer and other prostate diseases, and to cure or to prolong life without unwanted side-effects.

What do we do?

Support men living with prostate cancer and prostate disease, and the effects of treatment, by providing specialist information and support services.

Find answers by funding research into the causes and treatment of all prostate disease.

Lead change by campaigning, creating conversations and co-operating with others.

We are embarking upon one of the most ambitious and comprehensive improvement programmes in the history of men’s health in the UK.

We will spend around £25million in the next three years, tripling our investment in world class research to identify better diagnosis and treatments for all stages of prostate cancer. Getting prostate cancer under the microscope as never before, we will search for more effective, less invasive tests and treatments with fewer side effects.

We’re boosting our investment into support services with a range of innovations designed to reach men where and when they need support. We’re extending our services to reach more men where they live, through community support and teams of expert nurses on the ground, filling the gap between hospital treatment for prostate cancer and care by a GP.

We’re going to train and educate more health professionals, working with them to share knowledge of innovative practice, developing standards for the highest quality care.

Men Deserve Better.

Prostate Cancer UK (formerly known as The Prostate Cancer Charity) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332).

Twitter: @ProstateUK

Facebook: www.facebook.com/prostatecanceruk

Hey guys,

I’ve written this a few days before you are reading it now and it is beaming sunshine and beautiful outside so I hope that it has stayed and you are all enjoying Spring with me!

As ever I want to introduce you to the very important charity that I am supporting this month; Life Education Wessex (LEW). As you know I am very passionate about life education, as I found it wasn’t the academic side which most troubled me as I grew up, but it was the life decisions, often hard ones, which I had to make and which helped to shape the person I am today. LEW creates an incredible platform for children to learn important life lessons about growing up to be a healthy youngster – for some people this can be easy, but for many it is crucial that they know what choices are available and how lifestyle and healthy living decisions can affect them for the rest of their lives. Please read on to find out more about what they are up to and how you can help.

Hugs and kisses, Gok

xxx

Life Education Wessex teaches children to make informed and healthy choices, as they grow up, about alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and food as well as the importance of sleep, exercise and feelings. They also help pupils to acquire life skills and learn to be assertive to help them cope with bullying and peer group pressure. Their specially trained Educators provide lessons adapted for the age of the children from age 3 to 13 years. Visiting 60,000 children every year it works across the Wessex region covering Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset. Life Education Wessex visits schools once a year and provides education that grows with the children, building upon the previous year’s knowledge. It’s amazing how much the children learn and retain.

Why does it do it?

It’s clear that prevention is better than cure when it comes to the issues of obesity, alcohol misuse, smoking and drug use. By teaching children how to be healthy and make the best choices they have a better chance of making the right choices as they grow up.

In the words of Professor Robert Winston: “Education for children at an early age is vital, to help them adopt the right healthy habits, so that their health later on is going to be as good as possible. That’s why I think the work of Life Education is so important.”

Recent research with school children who’ve experienced life education demonstrates the programme’s exceptional success rate: 87% of children knew more about keeping healthy. 83% recognised how their emotions and needs change in different situations, 91% understood how others influence the choices they make about smoking, alcohol and other drugs and 76% reported they had learned to be more assertive.

With over 60% of adults and 30% of children in the UK considered to be overweight or obese and the rise in illnesses and diseases caused by poor diets, alcohol, and less active life styles there is a real need for change. Whilst statistics show that drug use is falling gradually, the NHS information Centre 2011 shows that a staggering 47% of 17 to 18 year olds have used illegal drugs. The damage that drug use and addiction can have is lasting and full rehabilitation is really difficult to achieve, therefore education is key to our children’s future health and well-being.

How much does it cost?

Annually the charity needs to raise £240,000 to deliver the education service across the region. The charity does not receive any government funding for this education and so it relies completely on the support of the community and it’s fundraising to raise this sum and provide the 50% of the cost of delivery, while participating schools provide part of the funding.

In a day a Life Education Educator can reach four classes of children, so in the region of 120 children. Each school generally books visits once a year and so each child receives the education as they grow up, reinforcing the be active, be happy, and be healthy message.

Join Harold’s Challenge to be active, healthy and happy.

Do your bit to help raise vital funds to educate the next generation about making the right health choices when it comes to enjoying a happy and healthy future. Together we can make a real difference.

Harold is the iconic Giraffe puppet used in classrooms to engage with young children about health and food, and the effects of drinking, smoking and taking drugs. Harold has set the challenge to us all to complete one or more challenges to help the charity reach its target of 1,000 individual challenges or to raise £50,000 in the coming 12 months. The charity needs to raise £240,000 annually to provide this vital education.

You can do anything to take part in Harold’s challenge, so long as it’s active and healthy. So whether you like to run, swim, jump, walk, ride a bike, play golf, or just want to invite your friends round for a healthy charity dinner, there’s a way you can easily raise money for Life Education Wessex.

To register your interest in taking up a challenge or just to find out more about Life Education Wessex click here

If your child’s school doesn’t provide Life Education and you would like it to, email enquiries@lifeeducationwessex.co.uk for more details or telephone 01258 837417.

(Life Education Wessex is a recognised delivery partner of Coram Life Education, the UK’s leading provider of health and drug education programmes).