ScotsCare Shout March/April 2010


Blether Buddies-ScotsCare’s New Telephone Befriending Service



ScotsCare has come up with a novel way of bringing together the Scottish community in the Greater London area - a new telephone befriending service we’ve named Blether Buddies.

We would like to introduce you to our Blether Buddies team, Willie, Bill, Tricia and Neil. The Blether Buddies are ScotsCare helpline volunteers who actively call clients on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis for a good blether. The scheme has been running as a pilot since November and has proved to be a great success and a rewarding initiative for both the clients and the buddies themselves. As a result of this we are opening the service up to all ScotsCare clients who are 60 and over.

Blether Buddie, Bill Day said, “It's great to hear how much many folk appreciate these calls and like to hear a friendly Scottish voice at the other end of the line. For us as well it's a real joy to discover how upbeat so many of our elderly clients are, having retained a healthy Scottish stoicism”.

If you would like to receive a regular call from us or even become a Blether Buddie yourself then please call Ralph on 0800 652 2989.

New Website

Have you visited the ScotsCare website recently? Well if you haven’t, why don’t you pay a visit to www.scotscare.com and take a look at our re-designed site. We have been working on the new design over the last few months and we have just gone live with the new look site. You can now also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Let us know what you think about the new site by emailing, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bag Sale

We are celebrating the re-launch of our website, www.scotscare.com by offering our fashion charity bag for just £4.99. The bag is designed by Jamie Bruski Tetsill, named ‘Fashions next one to watch’ by British Vogue and is not only stylish but also bio degradable and eco friendly. The bag usually sells for £9.99.

All of the money raised from sales of the bag goes directly towards supporting vulnerable Scots in London. So bag yourself a bargain and support our less fortunate Scots. The bag is available for purchase through our Kings Street Office or www.scotscare.com.

ScotsCare Tip

With the good weather finally on the way (we hope), why not get some exercise whilst getting some fresh air and saving money! They’re safe, inclusive and innovative – and best of all they’re free. The Great Outdoor Gym Company has installed gyms in parks, housing estates and schools throughout London. These include 21 ‘adizones’ which are fully-equipped for basketball, football and tennis with a large outdoor gym with canopy, climbing wall and a freestyle area for dance, aerobics, gymnastics and martial arts.

There are Adizones and Street Gyms across London Boroughs including, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Greenwich, Redbridge, Islington, Harrow, Havering, Camden, Kensington and Southwark. If you would like exact details of where the gyms are located or for any further information on any aspect of the outdoor gyms, visit www.tgogc.com or call 020 7450 4854.
 

Competition

The correct answer to the last competition is that a tattie-bogle is a scarecrow.  A ScotsCare bag full of goodies is on the way to Aileen Macleod Day as we speak. For this edition’s Scots word and to win a bag full of ScotsCare goodies, answer this question:

What is a hoolet? If you need a little help, you could always ask Harry Potter...

To enter, either send a postcard with your answer and details to: ScotsCare, Freepost, 37 King St, WC2E 7BR or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Good Luck.

 


Other Scottish Events in London

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) London Branch  continues its 80th Birthday celebrations with a Picnic Garden Dance in Kensington Gardens on 3rd July from 2-6pm. Details and the prize draw programme are available in advance from Jeff Robertson on 01903 245718 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Angela Young on 07976353608. Scottish Dancing – for fun, fitness and friendship.

London Scottish are holding an International Highland Games on the 5th and 6th of June. The event will feature an International strongman event, World Record attempts, pipe bands, Highland dancers plus food, drink and kids entertainment.

To book online: http://www.londonscottish.com/highlandgames Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: 0208 940 8289.

 Legacies

We would like to thank Mr Eric Bennett who recently signed up to our ScotsBox Club after receiving a copy of our latest Annual Review. Mr Bennett said, “I am delighted to help support less fortunate Scots.” The legacies club is set up to support the Scots in London who will follow us. However much you decide to give, rest assured that the charity will not have to pay inheritance tax on the donation. Donations can be used for among other things; school uniforms for families on low income, a re-training grant to get someone back into employment or even for building new affordable housing in London.

If you would like to join the Legacy Club, or for more information, visit www.scotscare.com and click on legacy or call freephone: 0800 652 2989.


    Staff Profile

SS: What is your name?
FM: Fiona Muzee.

SS: What do you do at ScotsCare and how long have you worked here?
FM: I joined ScotsCare in May 2009 as a Client Support Worker and I am currently covering the Team Leader role.

SS: What is your connection to Scotland?
FM: I have no connection to Scotland besides my name! I am told Fiona is a common Scottish name.

SS: What is your connection to London?
FM: Initially as a student and now work.

SS: What Scottish person do you admire most?
FM: Alexander Fleming.

SS: What age are you (you don’t have to tell us!!!)?
FM: Do I have to?!

SS: What surprising things are you good at?
FM: Baking cakes.

SS: What do you consider Scotland’s greatest contribution to the world?
FM: The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who was born in Dunfermline but immigrated to the US around 1848.

SS: Where are your favourite places in Scotland and London?
FM: I have only ever been to Edinburgh which I love but I hope to travel to other parts of Scotland one day. Portobello Market is one of my favourite places in London, its fun browsing the stalls and picking up a bargain!

SS: Tell us about something you like to do other than your work for ScotsCare?
FM: I enjoy reading motivational self help books.

SS: What would your last meal be?
FM: My mother’s roast pork with all the trimmings!

SS: What do you like most about Scottish culture or people?
FM: Not being afraid to say what they think!

SS: What do you enjoy most about working for ScotsCare?
FM: Being in the position to support vulnerable clients.

SS: Finally, tell us anything else you would like to, about yourself?
FM: I volunteer for the Terence Higgins Trust in my spare time.

Would you like to learn how to grow your own food, with or without a garden?



We are organising a free taster training course with Spitalfields City Farm on how to grow food in containers, on balconies or even windowsills. As well as learning how to grow fruit, veg and herbs, participants will also be saving money, eating healthily, and working as a team outdoors at the farm. At the end of the course we will pick and cook food from the farm for a meal together. We have 12 free places for this course which will run over 4 weeks, on Tuesdays from 11am-3pm in June/July. As most of our other events cater for older people or families, this course is specifically for younger ScotsCare clients aged 25-45, and if we get enough interest we will look at expanding this to other groups.

To apply, contact Una on 0800 652 2989 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write in to 37 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JS.