LUCIA Charity

BookCrossing for LUCIA

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:58:54 GMT

After the success of last years event, which saw over 1,000 books given away for free, we are once again teaming up with BookCrossers worldwide to raise awareness of the charity using this novel idea.

Throughout the month of September BookCrossers and LUCIA supporters will release books on buses, trains, planes, supermarkets and park benches all in aid of raising awareness of the wonderful work the charity does. The books, all with titles which relate to women, will bear a special bookplate telling the lucky people that find them of the work the charity does and how they can find out more. The bookplate will also contain a unique reference that will allow the book to be registered on the BookCrossing website and let us see how far around the world the message spreads!

The event is once again being headed up by LUCIA supporter Liz Broomfield, who organised last year’s event which also raised over £200 through sponsorship. We’re hoping that this year we'll release even more books than before and let more people know about the work LUCIA does, as well as brightening their day with a free novel.

If you have any books containing references to women in the title and would like to bookcross them for LUCIA, get involved by checking out the BookCrossing forum or email social@luciacharity.org.uk for more information.

The LUCIA bandits!

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:57:29 GMT

After a wet and windy few weeks the sun finally decided to shine in time for the Wythall Carnival. The LUCIA team certainly drew the crowds at the fair, promising Divine fairtrade chocolate to any lucky winners of the LUCIA human fruit machine! Tensions were certainly running high as the horn sounded and the LUCIA volunteers drew pieces of fruit from their bags. Would it be three lucky pears? Or a couple of kiwis and a solitary lemon? People also had the opportunity to walk away with a bottle of bubbly or bubble bath at the tombola, and even plan ahead and buy their christmas cards. The afternoon was full of fun and laughter, and over £160 was raised for LUCIA's projects in Ethiopia. Thank you to everyone who visited the stall or donated a prize. Make sure to check out the photos here.

Crazy bowls!

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:17:23 GMT

Come along for a night of crazy bowls at the Wythall Bowls Club, Silver Street, Wythall on Friday 3rd September from 7:00pm. Tickets are £2.50 per person and can be bought on the night or from us directly. There'll also be a BBQ available.

Elvis

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SOLD OUT.

A great chance - for one night only! - to see the very highly regarded Kevin Paul as Elvis. The fun will start at 7:30PM on 11th September 2010.

Venue: Kings Heath Cricket and Sports Club

Tickets: £8 Click Here to Buy Online

Alternatively, to pay by cheque please contact us.

Beer and Skittles Night

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:52:28 GMT

Plenty of fun and games to be had at our Beer and Skittles Night on Friday 24th September. Come down to the Selly Park Tavern at 7.30pm for a chance to test your bowling skills and win a prize! Tickets are £4 each and can be purchased from supporter John Rickards on 0121 4145796 or from us directly.

Can't make it in September? The following Beer and Skittles night will be on Friday 26th November - pop it in the diary!

Ink and Mobile Phones

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:10:00 GMT

Recycle your old mobile phones and empty ink-jet or laser printer cartridges to help LUCIA raise funds. It won't cost you a penny!

Just order your FREEPOST envelopes, pop the cartridges or phone into one of the envelopes and drop it into your local postbox. That's it!

For larger collections, such as your work offices or school, you can request a free collection box. Once the box is full, you just dial the number on the box to arrange free collection. It's as simple as that!

Please note that phones should be in working order and with a battery, but should not include the charger. Please also remember to remove your SIM card.

To get your free envelopes or collection box, just fill out the online request form - [Click Here]

If you also need to buy replacement ink, you can help LUCIA raise money that way too!

For more details about the recycling scheme , please click here - or contact us with your query.

Beekeepers everywhere - send us your honey!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:09:22 GMT

At one of the many stalls we run in the Midlands, LUCIA was approached by a very nice lady who keeps bees. The lady in question has since enquired about the possibility of her beekeeping club supporting a beehive. Perhaps there are other kind, generous beekeepers out there who may wish to join in?

I've visited Ethiopia four out of the last five years (at my own expense) since the charity was founded in 2004/5, and every time I go I'm amazed at the women's ability to work with determination and their will-power to survive against tremendous hardships. I try to visit as many of the projects that LUCIA supports as I can, and I have had the good fortune to meet a lady who keeps a beehive that was sponsored by us.

Flower power!

Sat, 22 May 2010 19:22:25 GMT

The sun was most certainly shining down on LUCIA supporters today as they snapped up a variety of plants at our sale. Begonias, fuschias, geraniums, petunias...it was hard to choose between them all! If that wasn't enough, people had the opportunity to enjoy a cuppa tea and a slice of cake in the sunshine and buy handmade cards and ethically-traded goods. We want to thank everyone who grew and supplied plants for us, the volunteers who kindly organised refreshments and of course everyone who attended the sale. We're still totting up our takings at the moment, but we're certain a fantastic amount was raised for LUCIA's projects. Make sure to check out the photos from the event here.

Meskel celebrations at the Little Voice Foundation

Fri, 21 May 2010 18:24:21 GMT

Kirsty, LUCIA's placement in Ethiopia, sent us this lovely story...

Saturday 26th September 2009 was the religious Meskel celebration for many Orthodox Ethiopians. The holiday marks the discovery of the 'true cross' and it is usually celebrated by family gatherings at which large bonfires are lit and special meals are eaten.

Little Voice Foundation celebrated in style with their own bonfire set up and a feast of celebratory food. When I arrived I was immediately summoned to the kitchen where I was shown the special meal of Doro Wat (spicy chicken stew) and the famous Ethiopian Injera (pancake staple) being made. The cooks at the home are very accommodating and they make enough food to allow for extra guests if they come.

We ate the delicious meal they had prepared after all the children had settled and washed their hands. It was great to see people feeding each other food from their plate, as it's a sign you love someone and care for them. These children have special bonds between themselves and the staff who work at the home and you almost forget that sometimes these are the only people they know and trust as family.

Foreign Currency

Sun, 02 May 2010 13:25:02 GMT

Foreign Currency lying around that you no longer need?

Instead of wasting it and cluttering up your drawers, please consider donating it to LUCIA who will use it to support important education, income generation and health projects in Africa.

We take any type of foreign currency. It can be just a few coins, or a wad of notes!

Simply hand them in to one of the LUCIA staff.

Thank you for supporting us!