Rucksack Project Event is approaching

Sorry it's been a little quiet, life's been a tad busy!  But let me tell you... the Portsmouth Rucksack Project event is full steam ahead!

We have 2,800 people who have pledged rucksacks and or loose useful items to donate, how amazing is that! Portsmouth et al you are just amazing!

So do pop in and see us on the day, there will be tea and coffee (for a small donation - funds going to our charities/shelters/organisations), representatives of where your rucksacks and items are going to - you can chat to and we're holding a raffle!

Jo has been working tirelessly to acquire the raffles prizes and they are just amazing!  Massive well done to Jo!

Raffle tickets on sale now at Portsmouth Watersports Centre and all the money raised will be given to Hampshire Homes for Veterans, and the other charities/organisations involved in helping the homeless.

The tickets will be on sale on the day at the centre, 5 tickets for £1.

Here is the list of amazing prizes so far...

TWO TICKETS TO SOLENT FORTS, CHAMPAGNE AND LUNCH https://www.facebook.com/solentforts?fref=ts 

LITTLE KANGA MARKETING CONSULTANTS = £50 ITUNES CARD

https://www.facebook.com/YourLittleKanga?fref=ts 

No6 CINEMA IN THE DOCKYARD

https://www.facebook.com/No6Cinema?fref=ts 

AWARD WINNING HMS WARRIOR FRAMED PHOTO https://www.facebook.com/Johnnyblackphotography?fref=ts 

BAND GIG-  BY CADENCY,YOUR CHOICE OF VENUE https://www.facebook.com/Cadencyband?fref=ts 

TONI AND GUY - A FABULOUS NEW HAIRCUT https://www.facebook.com/Toni-Guy-Southsea-208425265838125/timeline/ 

WAVERLEY EXCURSIONS - A DAYS CRUISE ON THE SOLENT https://www.facebook.com/waverley.excursions/ 

LOVE SOUTHSEA - £50 VOUCHER TO SPEND AT THE MARKET https://www.facebook.com/lovesouthseaevents?fref=ts 

PLAYZONE - PASS FOR TWO https://www.facebook.com/playzoneportsmouth?fref=ts 

WOK THE DUCK - ALBERT RD, £20 VOUCHER https://www.facebook.com/Wok-The-Duck-276989279002818/timeline/ 

ROYAL MARINES MUSEUM - FAMILY TICKET

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Marines-Museum-72892370919/timeline/ 

SWEAT SOUTHSEA - PERSONAL TRAINING SESSION https://www.facebook.com/SweatSouthsea?fref=ts 

PFC SIGNED SHIRT COURTESY OF Vince Hilaire

BIG WORLD IMPACT - 15 BRAND NEW BASKET BALLS 

https://www.facebook.com/BigWorldImpact?fref=ts 

STRONG ISLAND GOODY BAG

https://www.facebook.com/StrongIslandUK?fref=ts 

DIRT 2 ROAD - CYCLING OUTFIT

https:www.facebook.com/Dirt2Road 

TWO CASES OF WINE - THE FOUNTAIN IN CHICHESTER https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-Chichester-557701461022855/ti 

BABY BEAR SIGNING CLASS

https://www.facebook.com/jane.milnes?fref=ts 

STRAWBERRY WORKSHOP - HAIR CUT/BLOW https://www.facebook.com/Strawberry-Workshop-180927255279913/RY 

FAMILT TICKET FOR BLUE REEF

https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Reef-Aquarium-Portsmouth-177293768971171 

CHIMES RESTAURANT - LUNCH FOR TWO

SEKONDA GENTS WATCH

3 MONTHS GYM MEMBERSHIP & 3 MINTHS SWIM MEMBERSHIP AT THE MOUNTBATTEN CENTRE

Plus more still to come!

So do come on down and see us - we can't wait to meet you all 😊 

TTFN, Sammy xx

Cubs Rough it for Rucksacks

Quick post all the way from Turkey....

News just in - the Cubs did it!! A night under the stars roughing it for rucksacks! 

The Beavers joined in and cooked up a storm in the kitchen and served the Cubs 'soup kitchen' stylee. 

Here's a few of my sisters snaps...

I'm also told the Cubs did in fact get some sleep! Well done Clanfield Cub Scout group - you're amazing people!!

Anyway, it's thunder and lightening here, so I best got back to enjoying the storm!!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Rucksack recipients...

This is from a lovely lady who was happy for me to post her comments....

'I've been working at Central Point homeless day service for over two years and this year will be my second rucksack project.  Last year we were absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of rucksacks the service received, we had a whole minibus full!!  All spare offices in our service were full nearly to the ceilings! 

Lots of clients came to us for daily essentials and were surprised to find out about the Rucksack Project.  Instead of just essentials, they were handed a rucksack with clothing, blankets, food, toiletries and thermals - they were absolutely over the moon.  

Clients commented on how much it saves them during the winter months.  Some of our clients are a little bit older and the cold weather can be a lot tougher on the bones. 

All perishable food donations were used in the lead up to Christmas, with staff cooking amazing meals for our clients and all of the clients keeping together in the warm sat around hot food is just so amazing to see. 

Community spirit really is high.'

See... You lovely people. You are making a difference!!! Go, be nice.  It's nice to be nice 😊

TRFN, Sammy

Clanfield Cub Scouts

So as you all know by now, I'm involved in a community event called 'The Rucksack Project' in Portsmouth on 21st November at the Watersports Centre.  We are very pleased to be able to say that the Clanfield Cub Scouts Group have decided to join in with the event this year and get involved with donating rucksacks.

 

I approached the Cubs and discussed what we were trying to do.  Instead of the Cubs just bringing items in to donate, Akela thought it would be a good idea to give the Cubs an understanding of what it's really like to sleep on the streets and raise money at the same time.  

The Cubs are going to be holding a sponsored event 'Cubs Rough it for Rucksacks' in order to buy items to make rucksacks.  This is being held on 19th September, venue yet to be confirmed.  

The aim will be for the Cubs to spend a night sleeping under the stars, building a cardboard city to sleep in, but basically the Cubs and the elements!  After the sleep out, as a group they will decide between them what they think would be best to go in a rucksack for the homeless and where to spend the money to get the most out of it.

I'm so pleased the Cubs want to get involved, support the project and raise awareness of the plight of the homeless within the realms of learning. It's just bluddy amazing! I'm so so proud my nephew is going to be part of it all 😊

I'll keep you posted! 

Sammy xx

Just to recap in case you're new to the blog...

 

The Rucksack Project is not a charitable organisation but more of a movement borne out of a simple idea to help the homeless.  The official website address with more information is here...  http://rucksackproject.org 

 

This is the third year running an event has been organised in Portsmouth, and this year I am taking part of the organisation.  The event itself is on Facebook here...

https://www.facebook.com/events/1480658705584548/ last year we had over 1500 rucksacks donated and the event was a great success.

 

We will be collecting completed rucksacks, items to go in rucksacks and tins of food with ring pulls/packet food etc for the event, where they will be distributed to charities and homeless shelters in and around Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.  

 

The organisations benefitting from these items are - 
Camrose Centre
Society of St James
Portsmouth Vineyard
United Reform Church
Family Church
St Simons
Central Point
Hope House (Salvation Army)
Family Welfare 
Alabare ( Military Veterans) 

Changing perception of the homeless

D'you know, being part of The Rucksack Project event for the last few years has made me think and see things very differently. 

Thinking about the event itself, even if you can't make a rucksack, even if you can't donate anything, if this raises awareness and makes you view a homeless person differently then it's been a success. Remember, they are people too, there can be many reasons they're sat on that cold floor in torrential rain, don't judge them, just have a heart. A smile, a handshake, a hug or just to acknowledge them could mean the world. 

3 years ago I wouldn't have dreamt of sitting down with a homeless stranger for a chat - now my husbands used to it or days/nights out.  He gets dragged along for the ride, and usually loses items of his clothing to my new friends!  

In Brighton last year, it was a bitterly cold day and we'd gone for a day out of boozing, lunch, seeing a show.  We stepped off the train and were confronted with a homeless chap, sat on the frozen floor freezing cold.  I didn't have anything to give him, so I took my gloves off and gave then to him, he was so thankful and so pleased and put them straight on. Can you imagine going out on a freezing cold day and forgetting your gloves?  You'd moan for a bit and get warmed up in the car or home wouldn't you? What if you had no home to go to get warm?

Our trip to Brighton lost us a few scarfs, hat, a few pairs of gloves and a couple of hot pasties and cups of tea. That's absolutely nothing really. It was no big deal for me, but to some of the people we met - we were the only people to even acknowledge them, let alone want to help in a tiny way.

Last weekend we met a chap at a bus shelter in Portsmouth, all I had to give was my last pack of tissues and some antibacterial hand gel - it was all I had in my handbag at that point in time but I'm willing to share. I learnt the guy was excited to be moving into a shared room on Friday and couldn't wait to have an address so he could finally get himself back in to work. I gave him a hug, Mr B a handshake and wished him all the luck in the world. 

These people are humans too and sometimes go for days without anyone even seeing them. Just a hello could mean the world of difference.

So... Go! Be the nice people I know you are ❤️ 

TTFN, Sammy xx

Ps... We obviously exercise the same caution as you would meeting any strangers. You wouldn't just approach people you don't know in the dark, I'm not advocating you put yourself in any danger and do remember, some people may not want to talk to you! xx

Pps... Cold weather and visiting in a town centre, pack extra gloves and socks on the off chance of giving a useful gift xx

The Rucksack Project 2015

So I've been a bit quiet of late, apologies! WW has taken a bit of a backseat and I've been here there and everywhere - I'm a busy girl! 

But I'm here to let you all know that The Rucksack Project event in Portsmouth is back!! And I'm very honoured to be helping with organising the event and getting involved.

I'm sure you're all aware of the project by now. If you're not go have a read.... http://rucksackproject.org/ there are also other blog posts I've written on the last 2 years events and you can catch up on them on my blog homepage.

Jo posted the event on Facebook a week or two ago and the response we've had so far has just been amazing!! 1300 people so far have pledged items/rucksacks/help and I'm just blown away. What an amazing community we live in!  

November 21st is the date for your diary, you've loads of time to start collecting, add a few bits to your food shop weekly or to encourage others to get involved. Last year we had over 1500 rucksacks donated that went off to various shelters, organisations, refuges and charities - let's see if we can beat that this year!

If you want to join us the event is here... 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1480658705584548/ 

I'll be writing more posts on this subject of course, and I can't wait to be part of something special this year. 

TTFN, Sammy xx

A whirlwind of emotions...

So I didn't manage to post the last few days, but I've been good I promise!!

Thursday was all about my beautiful step daughter, Lauren; who has worked so hard this past year and all that hard work has finally paid off!  Lauren has got her place at uni to study diagnostic radiography and we couldn't be more proud!! 

Lauren has completed a full time college course around a full time job for the NHS, a part time job in a wine bar and restaurant all while training and competing in the London Marathon and various races for life and raising amazing funds for charity!  I want what she's got, I haven't enough stamina for a spot of exercise alongside my full time job - let alone all that!!

Lauren has worked so hard, given it her all and though there was no certainty in her place; given the fierce competition to get in - what she's achieved is simply amazing and we were so pleased for her when that email popped up confirming her place. (We knew she had it in the bag all along but she wouldn't believe us!)

We spent a lot of time Thursday celebrating with happy tears and just such a feeling of overwhelming pride!  I went out for dinner (Mr B was away sadly and missed all the fun) arranged as a surprise for Lauren, with her mum and step dad, friends and family and it was lovely to get together and celebrate all her hard work.

We were a few people missing in this picture, but we also gained one too!  We learnt that our waitress for the evening also had her uni place confirmed that day too, so she joined us for a drink as well!

My cousins daughter got her A level results Thursday and has done amazingly well too; straight A's all round are sending her straight to uni to study law, and we're off for cocktails tonight to celebrate!  Well done Megan, we're all so proud of you too. You've worked so hard and achieved so much to follow your dreams. 

Life is about to get so exciting for you both and the hard work will begin pretty much straight away I'm sure, but given what you've both achieved so far, you'll walk it I'm sure! 

Much love, Sammy xxxx