Thursday 24 January 2013

Stirring the pot for children and families

Come and get a free bowl of porridge to help support local children and families in need.

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace Team  will have a stand under at St John's Church, Edinburgh (corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road) on Friday 25th January 2013, handing out porridge to anyone who cares to stop and have a chat. We will be there from 8am to 12pm or whenever the porridge runs out.

Following the success of our last porridge stall we have chosen to support the local charity Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG).

One in four of Scotland’s children are officially recognised as living in poverty. In some areas over one in three children grow up in poverty. With Scotland’s undoubted wealth CPAG believes this is a scandal. There is no reason why our child poverty rates should be so much higher than in many other European countries.

Poverty remains one of the most serious problems facing children today. Its effects last a lifetime, negatively impacting on health, education, social and physical development and seriously harming future life chances and opportunities.

CPAG in Scotland was established in 1999 and works to raise awareness of the devastating impact poverty has on children in Scotland, maximise families’ incomes by helping to ensure those eligible for benefits and tax credits receive their full entitlements and campaign for positive policy changes to end that poverty.

You can sign up to let us know you're coming at Eventbrite.

For more information contact Annika Wolf at: info@festivalofspirituality.org.uk

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Getting into the charitable spirit

THE Festival of Spirituality and Peace and the Edinburgh Interfaith Association are showcasing ten different charities based in and around Scotland's capital this weekend.

The event will take place on Saturday 12 January 2013 in the hall at St John’s Episcopal Church, which is on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road.

Doors open from 1pm through to 5.30pm, giving a chance to faith-based and non-faith related local charities to present themselves and their causes, for people to engage with them, and to learn more about their projects and fields of action.

"If you live in or near Edinburgh, then this coming weekend's Volunteer Charity Fair provides an ideal opportunity to look at the difference you can help make this year," says Annika Wolf from the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which is extending its activities beyond August each year to spread the spirit of goodwill throughout the year.

The Festival says it is "delighted" to welcome representatives of Edinburgh Cyrenians, L’Arche Edinburgh, the Together-We-Can-Stop-It-Project, Christian Aid, Feed Glasgow, Waverley Care, the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, and Streetwork, among others, to this gathering.

"We will begin with an introduction to all the participating organisations, followed by a tea and coffee break, and further opportunities to talk to all representatives throughout the afternoon at their individual stalls," explains Ms Wolf.

* Others wishing to take part or to find out more can contact Annika Wolf at info@festivalofspirituality.org.uk