News Update 9

4 Feb 2005

NEWS UPDATE 9 - 4^th February 2005

Increase your Donations with Gift Aid

Since our newly found Charity Status, we have put a Gift Aid form on the website. Using Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, we get an extra 28 pence from the Inland Revenue, helping your donation go further. This means that £100 can be turned into £128, just so long as donations are made through Gift Aid.

We would appreciate it if all donations included the Gift Aid form. Gift Aid can be done retrospectively, so if you have already donated, please take the time to fill out the form for us so we can claim the extra from the tax man.

Click here to be taken directly to the Gift Aid form        

Unawatuna News

Jamie has been in contact with Geoffrey Dobbs. He was the subject of a channel 4 documentary, “Rebuilding Paradise” and the main force behind Adopt Srilanka. Jake is meeting him this week to discuss ways we can work together.

Jake, Alexsis and Matt have started clearing the Dutch Canal.

We are also investigating an opportunity to get involved with the building of a temporary orphanage in the area. Thankfully there was only one child orphaned by the Tsunami in the Unawatuna beach area, she is now living with her grandmother.

The Australian arm of Friends of Unawatuna have being offered 2 acres of land in Unawatuna. Jake and Matt are meeting with the people involved to find out the best course of action.

Forthcoming Fundraising Events

February 8^th , 8pm

The Tron Tavern, Edinburgh.

Endorphin  - One-off acoustic show in aid of FoU. Endorphin are an up and coming Edinburgh based band. Thanks to lead-guitarist Andy “The Axe” Collier for organising this. Have a listen to them online and maybe buy an EP (She’s From Mars is particularly good). www.endorphin.tv

February 10^th

Ang Doxey will be doing a sponsored head shave and pink hair colour (can you do both together?).  The local paper (Derby Evening Telegraph) covering the story. Looking forward to seeing the photos!

Fundraising

A list of just a few of the fundraising events are featured below. Sincere thanks to all of you involved. Please remember to use the Gift Aid form for all your donations.

The money Helen Pearce collected from clients at work reached £1345  - thanks to all who contributed.

Kent Highett says there are lots of fundraising events going on in Kuwait, including a band night on the 3rd Feb at the Hilton. Hope that was successful and sorry we weren’t there! Some of the funds would be going to FoU.

The video taken at the Bideford New Year's Eve party http://www.bidefordparty.org is being sold in aid of Friends of Unawatuna. If you recognise yourself or anyone, purchase the video! Thanks to Tony Koorlander for setting this up.

The Meadlands Singers held a concert on our behalf and raised £380 – thank you!

Thanks to Beryl who went round the house and collected £102 in 1 & 2 pence pieces! Thanks to Jon Walter for carrying it all to the bank!

 

Linda Chiles arranged a coffee morning at Croft School in Loxley near Stratford upon Avon

with photographs plus photos of Unawatuna received after the tsunami . They made £850.

Claire Ferguson, a teacher at Wath Comprehensive School in Rotherham, has so far raised over £1000. Claire writes, “We have made pupils aware of your particular situation and they were so keen to help and raised the money with the help of the PE department“.

Liz Bur writes that Southover school in Lewes did a brilliant fund raising effort for the tsunami appeal & part of the funds are going to the FoU

Many Thanks to the efforts of the Ashtanga Yoga World and El Convento in Andalucia www.ashtangaom.com who have managed to raise approx £1500 through private donations and small fundraisers.

Megan Murray is promoting FoU at the University of East Anglia.

Rivenhall Primary School in Essex has so far we have raised £350. Thanks to everyone involved.

Thelma McGorrighan, Head teacher at the Manor Infant school in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has raised £721 . Thanks to all involved for this donation

A change to the Newsletter 7 - Ray Guest is the president of Mersea Rugby Club, not the Junior Rugby Club – Sorry Ray!

 

Kind Regards

Trustees of the Friends of Unawatuna

Jake Zarins

Claire & Jamie Wilkinson

Jon Walter and Tanya Smart

Tarquin and Tine Desoutter

“Friends of Unawatuna” is a Registered Charity, number 1107804