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Sign in here for Giving Week 2015: nominate your favourite organisation, charity or worthy cause

288 replies

JustineMumsnet · 12/05/2015 17:39

Hello, hello

As (hopefully) lots of you will remember, last year we ran the inaugural Mumsnet Giving Week, raising nearly £23k (with MNHQ match-funding) for five MNer-nominated causes.

The idea is that you lovely lot use this thread to put forward the charities, organisations and good causes that you’d like to benefit - and we at MNHQ will pick five to be the focus of a week-long Mumsnet-wide fundraising drive in June. As last year, we will match-fund the amount raised by the end of the week (up to £25k, just in case any donors turn out to be Bill Gates).

A few principles: ideally the organisations chosen won’t be huge, national charities that already get a lot of coverage and fund-raising welly; they don’t have to be registered charities (our partners at JustGiving will do a bit of due diligence to make sure any that are chosen are legit organisations); and we’re on the lookout for a spread of organisations that reflect MNers’ concerns and interests. Last year the chosen organisations were the PDA Society (providing support for people with a little-known behavioural condition); the MNer-driven Woolly Hugs; Women’s Aid; Free Cakes for Kids; and Haven House Children’s Hospice.

And because we also want to make sure that the causes are ones that existing Mumsnetters have settled on, we’re only going to shortlist projects suggested by Mumsnetters who are registered as of now. (Apologies to newbies who join after this point, but there’s always next year.)

We’ll be partnering up with JustGiving, which will be organising the fundraising element and will also be making a donation to the chosen causes.

You’ve got until May 22 to nominate good causes, using this thread. So get cracking, and as ever do put any queries or comments here as well.

OP posts:
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Pastamancer · 14/05/2015 20:01

I forgot to say the Trethosa Hut Project is in Cornwall

scallopsrgreat · 14/05/2015 19:56

I'd like to vote for:

Womens Aid
Refuge
Rape Crisis
NIA - ending violence against women and children.
Eden House project - they work with and support women in the criminal justice system in Bristol.

autumnsmum · 14/05/2015 19:46

I completely support rett uk

Enormouse · 14/05/2015 19:45

Another vote for the abortion support network.

They are a wonderful charity who support women travelling from NI, Ireland and the isle of Man to access abortions. Both with financial grants and with providing accommodation and other help.

LinkDat · 14/05/2015 19:36

Also

www.rettuk.org/rettuk-public/rettuk.html

Hopefully one day they will find a way to reverse this in our girls.

40thisisit · 14/05/2015 19:34

Please can I nominate PLANETS - who stand for Pancreatic, Liver and Neuro Endocrine Tumours.
They are an amazing charity who raise money to help the treatment and prevention of the above cancer types.
They greatly supported my DH 4 years ago when he was suddenly diagnosed with having a potentially life threatening carcinoid tumour on his pancreas.
What makes their work even more special is that their top consultant, who has saved many lives removing tumours, is now crippled by Multiple Sclerosis. Very sadly he has had to stop operating but must now be greatly admired for his fundraising activities to support PLANETS.
Please see their link : www.planetscharity.org/about-planets-cancers/pancreatic-cancer/

LinkDat · 14/05/2015 19:33

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/Home

This place is an amazing hospice and the only Children's one in Sussex.

hedwig2001 · 14/05/2015 17:28

I would like to nominate Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. This charity provides surgical repair for women with a fistula due to obstructed labour. They also help women who have been cast out by their families due to fistula, giving refuge and training to support themselves. hamlin.org.au/about/

SlippinJimmy · 14/05/2015 17:19

It has to be Zoe's Place for me. They've been a massive help for our friends who have a baby with complex SN and I'm sure countless others!

southwest1 · 14/05/2015 16:46

I'd like to nominate the Breakaway Foundation, www.thebreakawayfoundation.org.uk

We (I'm a trustee) are the only UK wide charity offering support to children aged 0-18 with bladder and/or bowel diversions/dysfunction.

It's really isolating when your child has a bowel/bladder problem, even more so for the many children that need to have a stoma, they think that they are the only one. We provide weekend activity breaks for the families so that the children can meet others and know that they are not the only ones, and where parents can talk to others who know what they are going through.

It costs £185 per person for a weekend, and we want to be able to offer funding to as many families as we can, as having a child that is ill can be very hard financially. We are run entirely by volunteers so every penny goes to help our families.

6cats3gingerkittens · 14/05/2015 16:36

I nominate Cat's Protection in light of all the anti-cat m netters out there atpit. X

emalucy · 14/05/2015 16:29

www.oasisdaservice.org

I'd like to nominate Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, who do fantastic work and help many women and children, thank you Grin

DuploTakingOver · 14/05/2015 15:00

I would also like to nominate IPSEA www.ipsea.org.uk

IPSEA provides free and independent online resources to help resolve common issues with getting the right educational support for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities.

I have been fortunate not to need their services myself so far but I'm glad to know they are there.

Gralick · 14/05/2015 14:45

That's very nice of you, Knotty Flowers

I will always vote for Women's Aid and Refuge. Also the CAB, but I'm not sure if it falls within Mumsnet's remit. It relies on charity and local authority grants since government funding was axed.

But the Biscuit Fund isn't creepy! It's just that they're too small to vet applications for genuine need, therefore they don't invite any. They help a lot of desperate people in numerous ways :)

GloGirl · 14/05/2015 14:20

I've already nominated once, I was coming back on to vote for Woolly Hugs as I think MN really should support their own unofficial charity, but I see they have declared themselves out Sad

Would also like to nominate SANDS - the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. They are supporting a friend of mine, the sense of cruelty and loss must be overwhelming.

www.uk-sands.org/

IsabellaofFrance · 14/05/2015 14:03

I would like to Nominate Magic Breakfast, a charity supporting over 400 schools (where children with FSM entitlement is over 35%) by providing free breakfasts for children who may not otherwise eat in the morning.

www.magicbreakfast.com/

MrsMargoLeadbetter · 14/05/2015 13:57

I would like to nominate The Grandparent's Association. Their aim is to support grandparents to retain contact with their grandchildren when the family breaks down or there is conflict.

As a parent I know how much benefit my children get from their grandparental relationships, yet I know that sadly many grandparents (and grandchildren) don't have that contact.

They also support grandparents that care for their grandchildren when the child's parents aren't able to.

The GPA are small yet last year they answered nearly 10,000 calls on their helpline. They have a small staff team which is supported by an 'army' of 1000 volunteers which is amazing but also takes management and nurturing.

www.grandparents-association.org.uk/

cozietoesie · 14/05/2015 12:53

...what you're remembering was a limitation of the website some of the charities used for fundraising...

That makes sense - as I said, it was only a fleeting memory.

Could I also say that while it's wonderful of you Woolly Hugs people to take that stance - and it shows what sort of people you are - I don't think you should underestimate the regard in which you're held on MN. Myself, I think you should let things go as they will. Smile

fiddlybulb · 14/05/2015 12:46

That is very noble of the Woolly Hugs ladies Flowers

Can I nominate Women for Refugee Women who try to give a voice to female asylum seekers in the UK. These women are often fleeing violence, rape or other sorts of trauma, and then when they get here they're turned back in the most callous way. If they're given leave to remain they're often isolated and living in poverty with few family members or friends around them.

When we've just watched thousands of would-be migrants drown in the Med, and seen 4m people vote for UKIP, and heard Theresa May refuse to take the UK's fair share of asylum seekers, it would be nice to do something positive.

Of those already nominated I'd like to vote for

manchester action on street health (support for street sex workers)
The Carers centre
Rise UK
Freedom from Fistula
Leeway Support
COMAS
Refuge
IPSEA (have helped so many families on MN)

CommanderShepard · 14/05/2015 12:44

Silver Star in Oxford - special care for women with difficult pregnancies. A number of MNers (including me) have been supported by the fantastic team here who are almost always at threat of closure.

Woolfey · 14/05/2015 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dollybird99 · 14/05/2015 12:34

Is it possible to nominate Foodshare Maidenhead? They provide meals for the Homeless Community/Community meals for older, lonely & isolated people, as well as operating a foodbank.

The lady who runs it, Susan Brett is totally amazing, and earlier this year even gave away her car to a family 'that needed it more than she did'.

KnottyAndPistey · 14/05/2015 12:02

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

We bloody LOVE everyone for our nominations and we are truly grateful, thank you everyone for thinking of us, valuing what Woolly Hugs does and taking time to post Thanks

Knots and I have spoken this morning, and think it's only fair that other causes should have turn this year.

As much as we would be grateful for additional funds, there are so many other deserving charities that need support. Especially in this current climate.

So we are ruling ourselves out, lovely Justine and Rowan, or anyone, please don't think we are not grateful for our nominations, we really are. Thanks

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/05/2015 11:56

Another vote for Woolly Hugs from me too.

And Little Havens Hospice, in Essex

Mnp2015 · 14/05/2015 11:49

WoollyHugs

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