The charities the Festival will be supporting in 2023 are:
The Teddy Trust
The Pathway Project
CRY – Cardiac Risk in the
Young
Here's more about them
Teddy Trust
Over the years many treasured teddy bears have been brought to enjoy our Teddy Rides so we know what comfort a teddy bear can bring. The Teddy Trust collects soft, cuddly teddies sent by children around the UK and sends them to children abroad who have suffered the traumas of war, exploitation, hunger and famine and severe sexual abuse.
Recently the charity has sent thousands of teddy bears to children in Ukraine and also Mongolia where children live on the streets in severe poverty.
Teddies have also been sent to more than fifteen other countries where they are administered by Aid agencies and other charities including Rotary International. These countries include South Africa, Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, Romania, Malawi, Fiji, Nepal, Sierra Leonne and refugee camps in Greece and Zimbabwe. Some of the teddies have been sent to refugees arriving in the UK through local authorities.
The Teddy Trust is a small charity run entirely by volunteers and is based in Herefordshire. Every penny that is donated or raised by the charity’s own fundraising efforts is spent on shipping and customs costs.
For more information visit - https://teddytrust.org.uk
The Pathway Project
The Pathway Project, based in Lichfield, offers a range of support and services for adults (men as well as women), young people and children affected by all kinds of domestic abuse.
The services include:
Helpline: A 24/7 helpline
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with calls
answered by highly-trained staff.
Refuges: The Pathway project has 21 units of accommodation located in Lichfield and Tamworth. These provide a safe space for women and their children who are not safe in their own homes, a chance to escape their abuse.
Outreach support: The outreach team have helped thousands of adults over the years by providing both practical advice and emotional support. This support is mainly on a 1-to-1 basis either in people’s own homes (if it is safe to do so), at an agreed safe place or at Pathway’s drop-in centre the ‘Hope Centre’ in Lichfield.
Children’s Services: Specialist staff work with children and young people dealing with domestic abuse to provide them with a listening ear, coping strategies, advice and guidance around practical and emotional issues. Specialist help is also available to children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse.
Group work: Various groups are run offering help and support on topics such as self-discovery, wellbeing, mental health and family concerns.
Counselling: Counselling is available to all adults already accessing support with Pathway. All counsellors are qualified to diploma level.
For more information visit https://www.pathway-project.co.uk
CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young
Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people will collapse and die of undiagnosed heart conditions. Since its formation in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD).
The charity was established to raise awareness of the, often misunderstood and under-represented, fact that heart conditions can affect all people of all ages (not just older people) and of all athletic abilities – and that much more still needs to be done to prevent cardiac arrests in young people.
Some cases make the news – such as that of Danish midfielder, Christen Eriksen who suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in 2021 at the age of 29. Thankfully his life was saved thanks to prompt medical attention.
CRY tests around 27,000 young people each year aged between 14 and 35 and since its launch has screened over 165,000 young people. The majority of those tested receive the all-clear. However one in 300 tested by the screening programme will be flagged as having a potentially life-threatening condition.
The screening programme consists of a health questionnaire and an electrocardiogram test, or ECG, which will help flag up most common cardiac abnormalities.
CRY also offers bereavement services and funds medical research as well as specialist referral, screening and cardiac pathology services at leading UK hospitals. It also distributes medical information written by leading cardiologists for the general public.
For more information visit https://www.c-r-y.org.uk
St James' Church
For 486 years, the church has stood in the heart of the village. It is open to everyone, every day, for people of all ages to rest, reflect and pray. It too will be supported.