Christmas is a time for giving and as such Radio Harrow is celebrating a variety of charitable organisations that give support to people in and around the London Borough of Harrow all year long.
Over each of the 12 Days of Christmas, Radio Harrow will be celebrating the work of 12 local charities. From the 25th December to the 5th January, each day we will feature a different local charity on-air, on our website and on social media.
During the 12 Charities of Christmas, you will be able to find out more about the variety of local charities in and around the borough. We will showcase the great work they do and be telling you about how you can use their services, get involved with volunteering and/or donate.
We will be adding each charity every day on this page so keep checking back to find out who has made our 12 Charities of Christmas list! You can also find out more on our Twitter and Facebook pages or you can search #12CharitiesOfChristmas.
This Christmas, Radio Harrow will be highlighting individual local charities from the 12th-24th December on our social media channels and right here.
DAY TWELVE: Tues 24th Dec – St Marks Foundation
St Marks Foundation raises money for bowel disease research and education at St Mark’s Hospital, with the aim of creating a future free from the fear of bowel disease.
To find out more https://www.stmarkshospitalfoundation.org.uk
DAY ELEVEN: Mon 23rd Dec – Samaritans
Christmas can be hard for some, Talk to Samaritans any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. A totally confidential conversation with someone you don’t know can often feel easier.
To find out more https://www.samaritans.org
DAY TEN: Sun 22nd Dec – Rethink
Rethink support thousands of people every year through our diverse range of mental health services and life-changing support groups. These are vital in helping people get through crises, live independently and recognise that they don’t have to face mental illness alone.
To find out more visit https://www.rethink.org
DAY NINE: Sat 21st Dec – Harrow MS Therapy Centre
Harrow MS Therapy Centre supports people with multiple sclerosis to improve their quality of life through a range of therapies and support.
To find out more visit https://harrowmscentre.co.uk
DAY EIGHT: Friday 20th Dec – Harrow FoodBank
Harrow FoodBank provides nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis.
To find out more visit https://harrow.foodbank.org.uk
DAY SEVEN: Thurs 19th Dec – The WISH Centre
The WISH Centre provides confidential counselling for young people age 10-19 who self harm or have experienced sexual or domestic violence, abuse or neglect.
To find out more visit https://thewishcentre.org.uk
DAY SIX: Wed 18 Dec – Mind In Harrow
Mind in Harrow supports people who experience emotional distress, providing the highest quality services, campaigning to improve, education and challenge stigma, ensuring the views of those with mental health difficulties are heard.
To find out more visit www.mindinharrow.org.uk
DAY FIVE: Tues 17 Dec – Macmillian
Macmillan improves the lives of people affected by cancer. Providing practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.
To find out more visit macmillan.org.uk
DAY FOUR: Mon 16 Dec – Harrow Mencap
Harrow Mencap campaigns for equality for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers. Providing opportunity Prompting Change.
To find out more visit https://www.harrowmencap.org.uk
DAY THREE: Sun 15th Dec – AgeUK Harrow
Age UK exists to serve the interests of all older citizens of the London Borough of Harrow from all walks of life and ethnic communities.
To find out more visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk
DAY TWO: Sat 14 Dec – St Lukes Hospice
St Lukes Hospice Harrow care for people whose illnesses are no longer curable, enabling them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness. Through in-patient unit, day care unit, as well as Hospice at Home Care.
To find out more visit https://www.stlukes-hospice.org
DAY ONE: Fri 13 Dec – Harrow Carers
Harrow Carers provides services and support for carers of those in the community who are ill, frail or disabled.
To find out more visit https://harrowcarers.org
Follow us @radioharrow on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram with #RH12CharitiesofXmas
Relate London North West is a charity which provides counselling, family mediation and training to improve and support relationships in North West London.
Relate London North West offer a variety of services from mediation, counselling for adults and children, sex therapy and workplace support.
This year, Relate London North West is celebrating its 70th anniversary. As part of this they have a volunteer running the London Marathon who will be raising money to fund free counselling sessions for children in schools.
To donate or find out more about the different relationship services that Relate offer, head to http://www.relate.org.uk/london-north-west. You can also find out more on Facebook and Twitter.
Harrow Gateway is a small independent charity based in North Harrow. They provide leisure and social activities for people with learning disabilities in the borough.
They host a range of activities including evening club nights on Monday and Thursday nights, exercise nights on Wednesdays as well as quizzes, regular fundraising activities and a lunch club for parents and carers. They also run a monthly mini-market on the first Saturday of every month.
Harrow Gateway is run entirely by volunteers and they are always on the look-out for new ones. They are also currently looking for a new Chair of their board. If you’d like to help disabled people in the area, volunteer with Harrow Gateway.
To find out more about the charity head to www.harrowgateway.co.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Harrow Carers are the lead carers support agency in Harrow since 1996. The charity supports carers who help others in the community by working to reduce their burden of care and increase life chances. They offer a wide range of support services including counselling, benefits advice and advocacy.
If you’d like to help fundraise for the charity – all you need to do is head to Sainsbury’s for your weekly shop. If you order a free Everyday Shopping Card, then for every £1 you spend in store, Sainsbury’s will give 4p to Harrow Carers.
The charity is also part of Harrow Communities Click where individuals can share their skills in a time banking initiative. If you’re good at washing cars but need someone to help pull weeds – just get to the Communities Click site to register yourself and post or take-up small jobs. If you also happen to have an old or unwanted car, you could donate it and raise funds for Harrow Carers.
To find out how to get involved head to www.harrowcarers.org. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
The St Mark’s Hospital Foundation supports research and advancements for a future free from the fear of bowel disease.
St. Mark’s Hospital, based next to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, is the world’s first specialist bowel disease hospital. The money the Foundation raises from the general public goes to ensure vital research, education and training goes ahead each year, keeping St. Mark’s at the very pinnacle of success in beating bowel disease.
The Foundation run several fundraising events throughout the year. Radio Harrow supported the Foundation’s Colon Challenge event in May last year – this was a 280 mile bike ride around a colon shaped route. The Colon Challenge is back again for 2016 – if you’d like to take part and help to fundraise for St Mark’s Foundation you can sign-up and find out more at www.stmarkshospitalfoundation.org.uk
You can also find out more about the charity on Facebook and Twitter.
Harrow Young Musicians organise musical activities for young people who live in and around Harrow, offering a wide variety of music groups and ensembles for young people to get involved with.
With weekly rehearsals and a series of public concerts at their base in the Great Hall of Hatch End High School, Harrow Young Musicians have gained an enviable reputation for music making to a high level in a friendly atmosphere.
Groups have performed at iconic venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall to name a few. They have also raised money for many local, national and international charities at their concerts, including St Luke’s Hospice, the Talking Newspaper and Cystic Fibrosis Research.
There are many ways to get involved or help support Harrow Young Musicians by either donating, sponsoring or becoming a patron, or even volunteering your time by helping out at their events. If you’d like to find out more call 020 8420 1519 or head to www.hym.org.uk. You can even find them on Facebook.
The Rotary Club of Harrow was established in 1931 and the charity seeks to raise funds for local and international Rotary Charities. In the past, the Rotary Club of Harrow has supported the Global Polio Eradication initiative, a Harrow wheelchair appeal and several youth projects to name but a few.
Members meet on a regular basis to enjoy friendship, networking and to plan projects that will benefit the lives of others. Clubs utilise the skills, expertise and dedication of their members to help improve the lives of people in communities both at home and abroad.
Harrow Rotary would like to welcome people with an interest in making a difference in the community. If you would like to get involved you can attend their information meeting at 7.00pm on the 28th January 2016 at the Comfort Hotel on Northwick Park Road.
To find out more about the Rotary Club of Harrow call 01923-242100 or head to http://www.harrowrotary.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook.
Harrow Mencap is the leading voice and provider of services for people with learning disabilities in Harrow. Harrow Mencap works with and represents people with learning disabilities – as well as their families and carers – to ensure all of their needs, rights and aspirations are met. Their primary aim is to make sure all of their voices are heard. From after school clubs to day opportunities for adults, as well as 24 hour care and support, Harrow Mencap provide services for all ages.
The charity also runs several projects and schemes. Through the Carers Project, Harrow Mencap offers carers an opportunity to support other carers by becoming peer advocates who help to support and train other carers.
Speak Up Now is another initiative funded by Comic Relief which supports people with learning disabilities to have their voices heard and be included in decisions about their healthcare and well-being by being able to attend patient participation groups at their GP surgeries.
Harrow Mencap are also offering a project, called Skill Up. It’s specifically for young people aged 18 to 25, who are not eligible for council funded support after they leave school or college, to get the opportunity to learn new skills and prepare for the working world. The Skill Up Project gives young people the opportunity to learn all sorts of life skills; they can search for jobs, try new activities, learn about a healthy lifestyle, develop skills for work, be more independent, become a volunteer and meet new friends.
To find out more about their services or get involved call 0208 423 7382 or visit www.harrowmencap.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Age UK Harrow is an independent charity which exists to serve the interests of all older citizens of the London borough of Harrow. They provide a wide range of services from information on issues affecting older people to providing volunteering opportunities for those who are housebound or isolated.
The charity also develops partnerships and works alongside with other voluntary organisations and local health services to provide information on all matters relevant to older residents of Harrow with the aim of developing better quality services for them.
They currently have a volunteering opportunity for someone to help out during morning at their reception desk at their base in Premier House on Canning Road in Wealdstone. If you are interested in helping out, or know anyone that could benefit with meeting new people, learn some new skills and strengthen ties with the community please do get in touch at 0208 423 7382.
Age UK Harrow are also working in partnership with Communities Click – a council funded time banking scheme which allows people to help each other out and swap favours.
To find out more about the services Age UK Harrow provide head to www.ageukharrow.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. At Macmillan Cancer Support, they know how a cancer diagnosis can affect everything and they are there to support you through. From help with money worries and advice about work, to someone who’ll listen if you just want to talk, Macmillan help you make the choices you need to take back control, so you can start to feel like yourself again.
If you’d like some more support and would like to talk to someone you can call 0808 8080 00 00 or visit your local cancer information service at either Northwick Park or Central Middlesex Hospital. These information centres are open from Mon to Fri from 9am to 8pm.
If you’d like to help raise funds for Macmillan, you can sign up to the Vitality North London Half Marathon on Sunday 20th March where you can run or walk the 13 miles from Wembley Stadium to Allianz Park.
Find out more about the charity, what support they offer and ways to donate and/or get involved at www.macmillan.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Mind in Harrow is a local independent charity which provides information and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem within the Harrow community. They campaign together with people experiencing mental health problems to improve local services, raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health issues.
From mid- January Mind will be offering a wide range of low-cost or free activity based and well-being courses through the Harrow Active Minds Project – the activities will include yoga, crafts and stress management. You can sign up by calling 020 8426 0929 or by attending the enrolment session from 11am on January 7th at Harrow Baptist Church in central Harrow.
In partnership with the CNWL NHS Trust Mind in Harrow also offer the Harrow Talking Therapies Service at Northwick Park Hospital where anyone experiencing mental health issues can access Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, counselling, or employment support services by calling 020 8515 5015. To access this service, you need to have a Harrow GP.
If you would like to donate or help support these services you can become a volunteer or donate at the Mind in Harrow shop on College Road. They will also welcome any unwanted Christmas presents as donations. The shop also currently needs volunteers on Wednesdays and weekends – if you’re interested please do give them a ring on 020 3759 8303.
To find out more about Mind and all of their services head to www.mindinharrow.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Based in Kenton Grange, St Luke’s is the local hospice for Harrow and Brent. They care for people whose illnesses are no longer curable and help to enable those individuals to get the best possible quality of life.
At St Luke’s they work alongside families to ensure patients get the right care and support tailored to individual needs. The hospice relies on the community for 70% of their funding and as such, St Luke’s run several fundraising events throughout the year.
Their next event is an adrenaline fuelled challenge – as you can take part in a sky dive for the charity. The sky dive challenge will take place on 23rd April 2016 at Hinton Airfield, Brackley Northamptonshire. There is a non-refundable deposit of £50 to take part but if you raise £400 through sponsorship you can skydive for free. Sign-up by the 22nd January.
St Luke’s also have several charity shops in the borough where they always welcome any donations – so if you happen to have any unwanted Christmas presents, they will gladly have them.
To find out more about registering for the sky dive or getting involved with any of their other events head to www.stlukes-hospice.org or contact Marlon on 020 8382 8056. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Supported by the Harrow Council, the Harrow Heritage Trust helps to secure the protection, preservation and restoration on buildings and land in the London Borough of Harrow.
They help to preserve Harrow’s rich history whilst also encouraging today’s artists and architects to create the Heritage of the future.
If looking after Harrow’s beautiful historic sites and scenery interests you, you can become a member of the Heritage Trust and assist their voluntary work on heritage projects and open spaces which help to save Harrow Council and tax payers large sums of money each year.
As a member you can attend the quarterly meetings of the Trust, when reports on heritage projects are presented. Special visits to heritage sites are also arranged. The annual membership fee is £5.
Find out more about becoming a member or how to donate to the charity at www.harrowheritagetrust.org.uk
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