It’s time once again to think about what charities we would like to support during the forthcoming year.
You can vote for a “Home ” or Local Charity and an “Away” Charity, usually an overseas charity. Please use the forms at the back of church and submit your votes in the box there, or use the form on this page after the Charities’ information.
HOME CHARITY
ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND
Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s national dementia charity. The aim is to make sure nobody faces dementia alone. They provide support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, they campaign for the rights of people with dementia and fund vital dementia research.
Our local centre is in Alloa, providing invaluable support for those with dementia and their families.
BLESMA
Formerly called the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association
BLESMA is dedicated to helping all serving and ex-Service men and women live independent & fulfilling lives after suffering life-changing loss of limbs, sight, speech or hearing.
The charity provides practical, emotional & financial support to injured military personnel, their families & widow[er]s as they rebuild their lives.
BLESMA operates throughout the UK & runs a care home locally, in Crieff.
BLOOD BIKES SCOTLAND
BBS is a voluntary organisation, 100% run by volunteers, which supports the NHS by transporting [by motorcycle] free of charge, blood Mother test samples from wards to laboratories.
They also deliver medication to patients’ homes & support GPs, District Nurses, care homes & Community Hospitals with transport of small, urgent items.
THE CINNAMON TRUST
‘Peace of mind and practical help far people – love, care and safety for pets.’
Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity which seeks to relieve the anxieties, problems and sometimes injustices faced by elderly and terminally ill people and their pets, thereby saving a great deal of human sadness and animal suffering. Established in 1985, the charity relies on volunteers to walk dogs, transport pets, and foster pets whose owners have difficulty caring for them. It also administers pet sanctuaries.
CROSSROADS
Crossroads Caring Scotland is a national charity which exists to support carers in Scotland, through the provision of respite care and other forms of practical support.
The needs of both the carer and the person for whom they care are assessed and regularly reviewed to ensure the service is tailored to achieve positive outcomes. ‘The aim of our care service is to help people retain their independence and enjoy a good quality of life by allowing them to continue living in their own homesin the midst of their community. While our services are usually provided within the home, we also offer support that allows people to take part in community life outside of the home. Our services include assistance with daily life, respite for carers, palliative care and specialist children’s services.’
ERSKINE HOSPITAL/VETERANS CHARITY
‘Each year Erskine cares for many ex-Servicemen and women from all backgrounds. You can make a difference to the lives of our country’s Veterans who have sacrificed so much.’
‘Erskine’s strength lies in the very special blend of dedicated care, compassion and understanding we offer to residents and their families.’ Erskine provides support to Veterans in Scotland, through three care homes & a Veterans Village, comprising 44 cottages, an Activities Centre, five Assisted Living Apartments & 24 Transitional Supported Apartments.
GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE!
Formerly Gideons UK
Good News for Everyone! serves to introduce others to the Lord Jesus Christ by the placing, presenting and/or distributing scriptures in many different areas of life; these include the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs, together with copies of the full Bible. They also publish and deliver support material to help Christians engage with scripture.
THE SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST
The Scottish Wildlife Trust [SWT] is an environmental charity that campaigns for fundamental and lasting improvements for wildlife throughout Scotland: o giving a voice to ‘all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small’ which are under constant and pressure and threat o urging respect for and good stewardship of the beautiful natural world that we so often take for granted
SWT works to raise awareness and safeguard Scotland’s natural habitats and all the plants and animals they support. It does this in a number of ways, including education, practical projects and lobbying of the Scottish Parliament to improve legislation and funding.
OVERSEAS CHARITY
THE BIBLE SOCIETY
“We believe the Bible is God’s gift to the world. We want everyone to discover its message for themselves. Because of that we translate the Bible and make it accessible in people’s heart languages. We encourage people who’ve never thought the Bible was for them to explore it for themselves, and see life through a different lens.”
The Society distributes Bibles throughout the World & supports literacy training programmes to make the Bible accessible & understood.
COMPASSION UK
A well established and leading Christian children’s charity, Compassion UK is committed to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. “Our approach to fighting poverty is highly focused and personal. You’ll be connected to and known by an individual child or children as their only sponsors.”
Through prayers and messages of encouragement sponsors play a vital role in building the confidence of their sponsored child and affirming their worth in Christ. ‘
‘Compassion partners with more than 8,000 churches in 25 countries to deliver our proven child development programme to more than 2 million infants, children and youth. Around the world, children, families and entire communities are being empowered to overcome poverty and thrive both now and into the future.’
THE ETHIOPIA MEDICAL PROJECT
Ethiopia Medical Project (EMP) is a Scottish based charity that assists the Buccama Health Centre in rural Ethiopia. The charity focuses on preventing, raising awareness and treating and Uterine Prolapse in women & Podoconiosis (a non-contagious form of elephantiasis, prevalent in the area) in men & women. The health centre is a community that comprises a small band of religious sisters, a dedicated staff, including qualified nurses, & the many people dependent on the clinic for their needs.
The project was founded by two Glaswegian ladies, after getting to know the community of the Buccama Clinic & recognising the value of its mission. Funds raised contribute to the supply of medicine, medical supplies, food, transport & professional help.
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from healthcare worldwide. MSF provides relief to those in need, regardless of gender, race, creed, religion or political convictions.
MSF was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its valuable work.
THE MAMIE MARTIN FUND
The Mamie Martin Fund is a small charity operating from Central Scotland. It has been working since 1993 to advance the education of girls in Northern Malawi. It believes that no girl who has gained a place at secondary school should have to give it up because of poverty.
Money raised by supporters of the Fund are used to provide school fees for girls who have gained a school place but whose families cannot afford the fees. MMF currently works with 7 partner schools and in 2023/4 is supporting 119 girls, including 15 girls at a special school for deaf children.
SEA LIFE TRUST
The SEA LIFE Trust is a registered charity working globally to protect the world’s oceans and the amazing marine life that lives within them. Their vision is of a world where our oceans are healthy, properly protected and full of diverse life.
The Trust champions the need for plastic-free oceans and an end to over- exploitation of marine life through global projects and campaigns, as well as at their marine animal sanctuaries.
Voting Form
Please use the form below to let us know you preferences. You may vote for ONE charity in each section. Multiple submissions will be rejected.
Your email address is required, but it is only used to make sure people only vote once. The email address will not be used for any other purpose and will not be retained once voting closes on 24th September 2023.
Ongoing charity support
FOOD BANK
We support the food bank in Alloa which is helping to meet the basic needs of those in want during these difficult economic times. Contact person: Caroline Davies.
In these uncertain times for many of the most vulnerable in society, please remember our foodbank and be as generous as you can. The collection point is usually accessible when the church is open between 9.00am and 5.00pm. We are encouraging people who are not able to access the church during these periods to make financial contributions instead. See our Covid Information page for details on how to donate.
SHOPPING ON-LINE?
St. James’s is registered with easyfundraising.com. If you shop on-line with any of over 3000 well known retailers listed on easyfundraising.org.uk a percentage of what you spend is passed to St. James the Great Episcopal Church-Dollar at no additional cost to yourself. We have now raised over £150 for St. James’s. Please register to support us today at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stjamesdollar
