Charity and Voluntary Sector

MoD: Army and Navy ‘Centurions’ are combining forces for a ‘Barbarian stomp’ to raise funds for Help 4 Heroes and the Army Benevolent Charities. The 84 mile march will commence at 0900 at the Gateway to Hadrian’s Wall in Bowness on Solway on 20 July 2009 with the squad hoping to cover 20 miles on the first day and average 12-15 miles on the following days finishing at Tynemouth hopefully on 25 July.  
 
Curiously both the Army & Navy groups were considering the same fundraising idea and were brought together by David Richardson from the Portsmouth-based Roman re-enactment group Legio Secunda Augusta when they were researching costumes for their fundraising idea.
 
The 8 Navy Centurions are from the Base Logistics Department in Portsmouth Naval Base and they will be marching as ‘4th Century Centurions’ from the aptly named Classis Britannicus squad.  They will be carrying hide edged shields with iron bosses and First century replica iron tipped throwing javelins and spatha swords.  The Army team of 8 will include members of the 159 Supply Regiment and the Royal Logistic Corps Volunteers, marching as 1st century AD Romans.
Press release ~ Please support them HERE ~ Legio Secunda Augusta
 
BIG: An England-wide scheme to provide specialised storytelling sessions for children with profound learning difficulties is amongst 27 projects receiving funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme. This latest announcement sees over £5.5m awarded to voluntary & community organisations working with some of the most vulnerable & socially excluded people across England.
Press release ~ Reaching Communities programme ~ Bag Books ~ Cowpen Quay Community Association ~ Exeter and Localities Grief Support For Children, Young People and their Families’ Balloons Service project
 
BIG: At a time when redundancies in rural areas have increased by some 128%, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is reminding rural villages across the UK that there are now less than 4 weeks left to submit an application to take part in Village SOS - a new funding scheme from the Big Lottery Funding partnership with BBC One.
 
Village SOS aims to help revive these village communities, many of which are feeling the affects of the recession including local job losses and the closure of local amenities.  Village SOS funding will be awarded to six rural village communities and the search is also on for six enterprising and visionary individuals to become ‘Village Champions’ and work with the villages to help achieve their ambitions of starting a successful rural business. Applications close on 14 August 2009.
Press release ~ Village SOS ~ Make Your Mark ~ BBC search for Village Champions ~ Enterprise Insight ~ CRC: Rural Economies Recession Intelligence report
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