Good causes in Birmingham we can contribute to

[WendyWithers]

A group of us who get together regularly were talking the other day about whether we could do something helpful for our community or the world at large - that sounds rather dramatic as we were thinking of something fairly small like contributing to shoe box appeals; collecting items to send overseas, that sort of thing. We're in Birmingham.

AIBU to ask if anyone knows of any cause that might welcome our small contribution to mankind?

Sifa fireside will like the help! www.sifafireside.co.uk/ They are a charity aimed at helping homeless people and our nhs trust collected "shoe box" stuff for them at Christmas.

Not helpful but if you do go for a shoebox appeal make sure it isn't one with a massive agenda like that operation Christmas child shite.

Check out Birmingham Salvation Army. They do a lot in the community and at large

Spurgeons (google it) is a charity which supports and organises outings and treats for Young carers of disabled parents.

Acorns children's hospice? Or the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Children's Hospital?

YY a local Hospice. They always welcome any offers of time or help with fundraising.

Primrose Hospice (my local one)? It's just outside Birmingham.

Community elocution lessons?

Sorry

Rude.

Twin

Restore works with refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham. You can become a befriender

Birmingham Childrens Hospital is a charity close to my heart that does small and large fundraising appeals

I'm a couple of years out of date, but when I was working with a community nurse team in Birmingham one of the nurses was really struggling to get a palliative care package together for one of her patients (it wasn't a speciality that meant they came across palliative patients often, they would be in hospital by that point). Anyway, on talking to hospices they were really struggling due to cuts and the number of referrals being made to them. If I remember rightly, we ended up being accepted by a hospice on the opposite side of the city, which is a good thing but the last thing anybody needs to deal with at the end of their life.

I reckon it's worth having a chat with a couple of hospices. I know St Mary's hospice serves South Birmingham and I think there are two or three more covering other areas.

Hospices are always a wonderful cause to support.

The Q.E. has its own charity which has several causes under its umbrella, ranging from skin cancer, breast cancer, children. Soldiers.

City of Santuary

St Mary's Hospice - always need volunteer drivers, Receptionists, gardners, day hospice volunteers, but also supporters for fundraising... there are lots of little groups around the City that organise Quizzes and coffee evenings and so forth as well as the shops

Homestart

There was a group over in Great Barr way who collected loads of shoe boxes of toiletries for women in refuges last Christmas - the name has gone but will hopefully come to me soon

Homeless Project These folks used to collect anything you might need to start up when you are given an empty flat - from sheets to cutlery, mirrors, pots, pans, plates, and bits of furniture. It's a while since I've taken anything so worth phoning and asking first

Birmingham Children's Hospital is also close to my heart. They are amazing people and could always do with a helping hand for equipment and such.

I have no idea as I live nowhere near Birmingham, but that sounds like such a kind and thoughtful thing to do.

A hospice or refugee project would be good. Where we live there is a community neighbourhood scheme where people visit isolated residents and chat or help with basic tasks. There might be something like that in Birmingham perhaps?

Can you knit ? Or crochet ?
The Neo Natal Unit at the Women's love to receive tiny knitted things (I've got some guidance if you want, and a contact I can PM you)