3 Weeks To Go! #rucksackevent

It's less than 3 weeks to go! I can't believe it's come round so quickly!

There's loads of activity on the Facebook event and it's so lovely to see the community spirit well and truly alive and kicking.  People collecting, sourcing items, acting as drop off points, driving round the county for collections - you're all amazing!

Just a quick note tonight to let you know about the charities who will be receiving your wonderful donations. We're welcoming some old friends, new friends and well just about everyone!

Here it is... here is the list of charities we have confirmed so far, who will be receiving your kind donations from this event...

✔️Central Point - Portsmouth

✔️Hope House (Salvation Army) - Portsmouth

✔️Hampshire Homes For Veterans 

✔️Portsmouth Welfare

✔️United Reform Church - Portsmouth

✔️St James Church - Portsmouth

✔️Two Saints - Patrick House & Day Centre - Southampton 

✔️The Roberts Centre - Portsmouth

✔️Bournemouth Outreach

✔️Fareham & Gosport Basics Bank

✔️Opsafe Winter - Brighton

✔️Two Saints - Yew Tree House - Portsmouth

✔️Family Church - Portsmouth

✔️No Limits - Southampton

✔️St Jude's Church - Portsmouth

✔️Purple People Kitchen and Food Bank - Brighton

✔️Step by Step - Havant

✔️Two Saints - Havant

✔️Winchester Churches Night Shelter

✔️AOK Rucksack Appeal - Bournemouth

✔️Help for Homeless Hampshire

Can't wait to meet you all, see you there!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Great South Run for Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association

So this is it, this is the year Mr. B is going to run 10 miles for charity.  It is his first time, not through want of trying - he's signed up a few times now but had to pull out due to injury etc, but hopefully this time it'll actually happen!

Now Mr. B is a fan of running, not quite as much as his daughter (crazy lady!) but he does enjoy pounding those pavements and to complete this run is something he has on his bucket list.  The race is in 5 short weeks and from what I can see, training is going well!!

Now alongside doing this run, Mr. B is also collecting for charity.  He has chosen to run for a charity very close to our families heart and that is Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association - http://www.portsmouthdsa.org/

So let me tell you a little bit about why this is his chosen charity. 

Around 10 years ago, my cousin and his wife gave birth to a very lovely little boy called Ethan. Ethan is their first child and he is just beautiful.

He's growing into a lovely young lad; he loves school and drama, playing with his friends, he especially loves all his cousins and of course giving his mum and dad some cheek occasionally!

He's currently in his last year of junior school getting ready for the transition to senior school.  

Ethan is no different to you and I, he likes to have fun, partake in outdoor activities, he likes to watch musicals and he loves spending time with his family. 

Shortly after he was born, my cousin and his wife were given the information that Ethan was indeed a very special little boy and he in fact is rocking an extra chromosome! Ethan has Down Syndrome, he is not a Downs child, or anything other derogatory people can or may say, his make up is just a little different to some other people, but you know what - let's celebrate individuality, difference and diversity, it's a beautiful thing. 

Ethan is just amazing, there is nothing he can't do or won't try. He knows he has Down Syndrome and that this can make people think he looks or is different, his parents have explained this to him and this won't stop him doing whatever he wants to in life; some things he is really good at and others he has to try harder to learn than other people.

The learning Ethan does and the support his family and school receive is where Portsmouth DSA come in to the equation. 

Through Portsmouth DSA (footprints) Ethan benefits from speech therapy, drama classes and social events for children with Down Syndrome. They also provide Ethan's school with expert advice, which is invaluable and they are currently helping with his transition to senior school. To be able to do all of this, the service requires vital funds and we are very honoured to be able to raise funds for them in any way we can!

So with all this said, Mr. B will be running 10 miles, I will be making my way round 5km with Ethan's grandad. Ethan's mum will be running 10 miles and Ethan will be running the junior run of 2.5km after completing the 1.5km for the the last 4 years.

So if you'd consider sponsoring us - any of us, we'd be most grateful!!

Here is Mr. B's link, and if you have any questions - please don't hesitate to ask 💜

Virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewBarcroftBarney 

Thanking you in advance, Mrs B xx

Why The Rucksack Event?

I get asked this a lot.  Why did you pick this specific event to support, what made you want to help the homeless and how did it start?  It isn’t a hidden agenda question I’m sure, it isn’t one I’m shy about - but it is always a tricky one to answer!

 

So the long and short of it is for me, why wouldn’t I?  I’m a people person and I can’t stand to think of people being less fortunate than others and being deprived of things we take for granted, even if it is something as little as daily conversation.  I am a person who’s always wanted to help others; I want to help people, I want to help animals, I want to help everyone.  I do have a sense of injustice in the World about lots of issues and it does make me very upset if I think about it all for too long!

 

I discovered the Rucksack Project when I was looking for some way to give something back to the community over Christmas a few years ago.  I had heard of the shoe box appeal before and other things like that, also buying a service person a gift and posting to a far flung land to ensure they knew they weren’t forgotten at Christmas; but I wanted to do something local as well.  Low and behold my google search turned up the Rucksack Project and I’ve been hooked ever since!  We took part in the first event in 2012 and since then I’ve been helping out Jo to organise and hold an event in Portsmouth.

 

Why do I want to help the homeless?  I work in housing and have done for a long time; all different areas of housing from estate agency to conveyancing to social housing; so I guess housing is a bit of a passion of mine.  I’ve looked at it from all aspects and I guess I just truly believe everyone deserves somewhere to call home.  

I’m also passionate about treating everyone with kindness, I was once told by a small African boy (or 20!) that ‘it’s nice to be nice’ – and do you know what - it certainly is.  I’ve always stopped and spoken to a homeless person, given some change, or bought a person something to eat or drink.  Even stopping just to chat to a homeless person, simply just saying good morning or afternoon on the way past them.  Homeless people aren’t scary, they aren’t the world’s unwashed to be avoided, they are people just like you and me who are down on their luck and they are the kind of people who are desperately in need of some kindness.

People are homeless for many reasons, (and this includes those who aren’t street homeless – there are sofa surfers amongst the numbers counted also) and whatever these reasons, you should try not to pass judgement.  There is the old adage that we are all only a pay check away from homelessness.  Given the instability of the economy, possible Brexit effects, large amounts of credit owed across the UK etc – this is very true.  The simple act of a job loss due to no fault of your own, could lead to much bigger and very serious problems.  This is always worth bearing in mind.

 

The other thing people always ask me is, ‘what would you do if the person you give money to wastes it on alcohol’, well wouldn’t that just be a disgusting thing for them to do?  I must admit, it is one of the reasons I always try to give things other than money, I tend to go for clothes/food/Greggs gift vouchers (there are occasions when I’ve had nothing in my handbag other than a packet of tissues and some non-alcohol antiseptic hand gel and I’ve given that away too).  But on the other hand – who am I to judge.  If that can of beer will help them get through the next hour/day/night then really, why should I get to pass judgement on that while sitting in my nice cosy warm home.  In my opinion it is absolutely no reason not to give to the homeless or not to talk to them, in fear they may have a drink.  I have a drink most weekends – it doesn’t make me a bad person.  I am not going to change the way people spend their money, whether they are homeless or not. 

 

The last question I get asked is – why should people get involved?  Well simply because isn’t it the best Christmas gift you could give?  Isn’t it worthwhile spending your hard earned money in a charity shop to give something to someone who it will mean the world to, rather than buying more useless gifts your family don’t want?  Isn’t it worth educating your children about the issue of homelessness?  If there is something you can be involved in, even once a year – make it worthwhile, make it local and make it for your community.  

 

If you have nothing to give, y’know – that’s absolutely fine too.  But maybe think about your time of day, that is certainly something you could give for free – or even an acknowledgement.  For me and my family, the rucksack event goes on all year round and not just at Christmas.  We have a standing joke that my hubby loses all sorts of items of clothing on nights out – I will give away hats/scarfs/gloves etc without a second thought – me (or him) cold for a few hours vs someone staying warm out on the streets on a bitterly cold night, no contest!

 

If you have any other questions - please don't hesitate to ask!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Rucksack Event Portsmouth 2016

We're back!!! 

For the last 3 years I have been involved in the Rucksack Project and the event held in Portsmouth.  Joanne asked me to help out with the organising of the event last year and it was hard work but just amazing.  I had a blast, we made a real difference with the help of the community and I made a very lovely friend in Jo.  We saw the donation of over 3000 rucksacks and these were distributed to many local charities, shelters and foodbanks across the South Coast. 

I am very honoured and so thrilled to be asked by Jo to help again, as it is a cause close to my heart and one I truly believe in.

 

The Rucksack Project was started in 2009 by a guy called Mathew White.  He decided that Christmas; with the last of his Christmas shopping money not to buy any more useless items people didn’t really want and he went about buying a rucksack and items to put in the rucksack including food, clothes and useful items.  He gave the pack to a homeless person on the street and said it was the most rewarding Christmas present he had ever given.  

Mathew spread the word and the Project was founded, he ran the project for 7 years; he co-ordinated events that were arranged by volunteers all over the country and maintained a website with useful info and questions and a list of the events and how people could help.  Jo was one of these individuals who took on the mammoth task and began by organising Portsmouth’s event!

 

The Rucksack Project wasn’t a charity, it never took a penny in donations, it was simply a community movement in order to help people less fortunate.  The Project encouraged people to buy items from charity shops, thus extending the promotion of re-use and recycling in the best possible way.

 

Sadly after 7 years Mathew decided he wasn’t able to continue this and the Rucksack Project was officially closed.  To quote from the statement on the Facebook page, ‘No idea can be truly closed though and I have no doubt many of you will continue to carry out this concept under one name or another and that is a testament to its simplicity…. I will of course continue in my own way to do my bit each year and my very best wishes to all of you who I know will do the same.’  So… This is where Jo and I come in!  Jo and I had a conversation about it and we knew that there was no way we wouldn’t want to organise an event this year; after the resounding success of last year and knowing that we helped so many people.  We aren’t going to change the housing crisis or the root cause of homelessness over night, but to know you’ve made someones day/week/month/life a little easier, is certainly a good place to start. 

 

So The Rucksack Event Portsmouth is born.

 

The event this year is going to be held on November 19^th and we are very excited to announce that we have a new venue!  We are going to hold the event at ‘Pompey in the Community’ centre in Anson Road right next to Fratton Park.  How exciting that the local football club are going to be at the heart of this community event!

 

For those wanting to participate, the concept is the same as always and is fairly simple.  Grab yourself a rucksack (from a charity shop is always a good shout – helps the charity also) and fill it with these items –

Gloves

Socks

Undies

Warm Jumper

Sleeping bag

Wooly hat

Flask

Tissues

Small toiletries (no medication or razors)

Tins of food with ringpulls/packet soups/longlife food/high calorie food

 

The list is of course, not exhaustive and you don’t have to have everything on the list by any means.  You could do a rucksack specifically for a woman -include sanitary product/wipes/hairbrush/hairbands/nappy sacks (to dispose of sanitary items), specifically for a person with a dog – include dog food, a bone, small toy etc.  The possibilities are endless!  

Get the children involved, teach them about homelessness, ask what they would like to include and discuss with them what would and wouldn’t be a good idea.  Make it a charitable, community and family thing to participate in, you won’t be disappointed – I promise!  It will be the best Christmas present you’ll give this year.  Last year we had clubs of cubs/scouts/brownies etc involved too!

 

If you’re unable to make a rucksack for whatever reason, we’ll be more than happy to take donations of toiletries, sleeping bags, boots, food (tins/longlife/packet soups/high calorific food) also.  These are all really useful items.  The other thing you could do - is buddy up with someone else and make a rucksack between you, pop a post on the event page saying what you have and what you need – that often works well too.

 

Essentially all you need to do is bring the rucksack along on the day (or to a drop off hub prior to this – there is a list on the facebook event page) come and have a cuppa and a chat and all the charities/shelters/hostels/churches will be there on the day collecting rucksacks to take back to their services and distribute to their service users.  There will be plenty of people to talk to about the event, about the charities and to meet like-minded people.  Likewise as per other years, we will be running a drop and run station in the Fratton Park car park - should you just want to drop off your rucksack or items and not pop in.  Both options are more than welcome!

 

We are contacting and finalising the list of local charities who will benefit from the event this year and we are busy organising the logistics.  As and when we have further info – we will post and share these in the event page.  If you have a charity /shelter/hostel/church in mind who would benefit from the event – please let us know and we’ll make contact with them.

 

The event is very much in the early stages; we only launched last week - so we are busy drumming up support, sharing the event on facebook and encouraging people to do the same.  As there is no official charity behind this event – just little ol’ Jo and I (and now Pompey in the Community), we have no official publicity, website, flyers etc – it is simply word of mouth and social media to get this event out there and to make it a success. 

 

The event page is here - https://www.facebook.com/events/521038881440314/?ti=icl

It's admin’d by Jo and I, and someone is always around to answer a question if you have one, we’d certainly be grateful for a share or two!

Thanks for reading and we hope to see you there!

Sammy xx

 

As a ps… Last year the event was covered by the local news, TV and radio – so we will of course be making everyone we can aware that we are up and running again for this year.

 

Here is a list of some of the charities/shelters/hostels who benefitted last year from rucksacks and kind donations –

Hampshire Homes for Veterans

Hope House (Salvation Army), Portsmouth

Camrose Centre, Basingstoke

Central Point, Portsmouth

Society of St James, Portsmouth/Southampton

United Reform Church, Portsmouth

Family Church, Portsmouth

St Simons, Portsmouth

Family Welfare, Portsmouth

Bournemouth Outreach, Bournemouth

Two Saints, Portsmouth/Southampton

The Rucksack Event Portsmouth 2016

Psssssttt.... I've got a secret!!

The Rucksack Event Portsmouth 2016 has been confirmed!!

Returning again to Portsmouth this winter after a phenomenal event last year, where we collected and distributed over 3,500 rucksacks for the homeless community.

More details to come, including an exciting new partnership and a new venue for 2016!

Save the date.... 19th November 2016.

See you there!!xx

#HellHathNoFuryLikeAWomanInPink

Well this weekend saw the Race for Life events in Portsmouth/Southsea.  An annual event to raise money for Cancer Research, traditionally they're girls events, but more men and boys are allowed to take part these days.

My cousins beautiful wife has this year embarked on a personal challenge for her special birthday coming up - 40 for 40.  Katherine has pledged to race 40 miles before her 40th birthday in December, and the Portsmouth 10k Race for Life counted as 6 of those 40 miles.  I got drunk one family party and convinced my cousin and her sister in law that we should join Katherine and keep her company for this 10k. So before anyone could change their mind - I signed us all up, whoops!

Now whilst on holiday, (drunk again), I saw a status pop up on Facebook that my friend Traci was signed up for the 5k Pretty Muddy and she had no one to do it with as her friend couldn't make it, before you could say 'Sammy what about your bad back' I'd signed up to do it with her, whoops!

So this weekend saw those two events, two events I never thought I'd be able to complete one of let alone two! So thank you all girls, for pushing me, supporting me and encouraging me, we did it!

The Pretty Muddy.

We met up with my Step Daughter, Lauren and her sister Lynsey - at the beginning and the end. Traci and I completed the course in 1 hour and 15 mins ish including waiting time to go over the obstacles and it was such fun!

Next up was Sunday's 10k, in the wind and rain!

We were joined by my cousins little boy, Toby to race across the finish line! We managed the 10k in an hour and 48 mins! We got bluddy soaked!

All in all a great weekend and so so pleased I managed both events.  We've raised more than £500 for cancer research this weekend and that's certainly not to be sniffed at! 

Sadly on the way back to the car, I've somehow managed to damage my foot and I've been strapped up with ice ever since! I've been xrayed and they don't think it's broken, but possibly a stress fracture that won't show up for a few days until new bone regrowth! But definitely soft tissue damage, ligament and tendon problems. Only me!!

TTFN, Sammy xx

I'm tattooed... I'm sorry - does that offend you?

So today I went out in a knee length skirt and faced some strange questions. Yes I'm tattooed, yes some of them they aren't small, but no I'm not in any way ashamed of my 'permanent' life choices.  

I've always been around tattooed people - my dad for one is quite decorated.  It has never made me feel differently about people or situations - just their choice and I'm cool with that.  People with or without tattoos are just people to me.

I'm in double figures for the amount of tattoos I have - am I worried? Do I regret any of them? The simple answer is no!  Do I think people who don't have tattoos are strange? Or should have them? Hell no, personal choice is a wonderful thing.

People sometimes ask questions about my tattoos such as - why did you have a specific something done or what does it mean to you etc? But today's questions were a little obtuse.

'What does your tattoo mean' is always a tricky one or why did you have it done.  I then start feeling I ought to make up stories behind my tattoos!  Some of them I had for specific events - my Alice in Wonderland piece was for my 30th, I'm a big fan and had a Mad Hatters tea party - my tattoo totally symbolises that and what a memory.  We're all mad here!

Picture & Tattoo by Tim Childs at Southsea Tattoo Company.

https://www.facebook.com/southseatc/ 

My flowers on my foot, Nanny drew - but that wasn't the reason I wanted or had them.  I liked them and went for it.  Nanny was alive and kicking then, so in no way a memorial tattoo.

I love this song, the lyrics are beautiful and I could apply it to many parts of my life or people.  But should I, just to make people understand?

Tattoo by Pamela Green at ABH tattoos at a tattoo convention. https://www.facebook.com/ABH-Tattooing-174251212607814/

I don't have Mr. B's name tattooed on me, but I do have my alter ego on my wrist.  Not because I might forget my name, but just because I wanted to!

Tattoo by Christine at Dinos tattoos at a tattoo convention. https://www.facebook.com/Dinos-Tattooist-Ltd-336751280200/

My newest tattoo means more than I could ever tell you - I'll write you a story about it one day.

Tattoo by Ollie Sims at Southsea Tattoo Company.

http://www.southseatattoo.co/ 

But I have lots of others as well that mean literally - not a great deal, just I liked and wanted them.

Today I was told the other person couldn't dream of having a tattoo because they wouldn't want it to define them, and how did I feel about that?  I'm not defined by my tattoos, I'm Sammy or Mrs. B with tattoos or without tattoos. Had I have worn trousers or long sleeves today, I simply would've behaved in exactly the same way and still been me - these tattoos made no difference whatsoever!

I was also told that this other person couldn't have a tattoo because their life is fluid and always changing, they wouldn't want something to remind them of their past, how possibly could I?

How sad is that?  My past has made me who I am today.  I don't regret much; I don't wish it hadn't happened, my past shaped me into who I am today - how awful is it to feel like you can't relive or be reminded of your past, no matter how painful it is.  I have lived my life so far, no matter what bad things have happened and I'm proud I've come out the other side.  But at the same time, if I had no tattoos - I wouldn't not remember them, I wouldn't not have let them shape me. It totally makes no odds.

I was also asked why I would have tattoos on my lower legs where people could see them.  I have a few answers to this - Why not? Where else? What if I had no other space?  Seriously again, my legs???

Today's questions really made me think about my inkings, it also totally re-enforced in my mind why I have tattoos.  

Because I want them and it's my body, my choice.

So by all means; admire them, dislike them, ask me questions, talk about them with me - but don't judge, I'm not asking you to understand it or even partake yourself.

They're mine - not yours.

Your body is a canvas, what you choose to decorate it with, perforate it with or dress it with is totally up to you and quite simply, you rock.  Whatever your reasons for whatever you do - who cares, you body is yours and no one else's.

TTFN, Sammy xx