Starbucks, 106 George Street

Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity. Everything we do is guided by the experiences of the people we work with, from shaping the services we deliver to influencing national policy around sexual health and blood borne viruses.

It is important for us at the Hospice that the environment for our patients and their families is the best it can possibly be. We know that gardens are intimately connected to our health and well-being across the life-course. This does not change with end-of-life care. Our plan is to create a large vegetable garden, visible from our Day Services unit. We need to clear a large area of ground, include some raised beds, bring in some good quality soil and create a clear pathway from the main Hospice building. The work will involve the use of a digger to create the initial area and pathway. We will then plant a selection of vegetables which in time will produce a lovely selection of vegetables for use in the Hospice kitchen. Patients, staff and families will benefit from freshly picked potatoes, beans courgettes, herbs, onions, leeks and cabbages. Our physiotherapy team in our Day Therapies service will encourage the patients to become involved in the seeding, planting and growing of the vegetables. It will be a wonderful way to include our patients in a healthy, rewarding , outdoor pursuit as well as providing healthy produce for our meals. It will be a therapeutic activity in itself, offering a sense of achievement along with a connection with nature and a chance to work alongside others. It will also save the Hospice a considerable amount of money in the long run which is wonderful.

Welcome to our fundraising page! Our vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. Our work targets the whole population with a strong focus on those most at risk – babies, children and young adults aged 15-24. We believe no one should die of a vaccine preventable disease and have invested millions in vital medical research to safeguard children and adults from unnecessary death and disability. Every year we provide and distribute over a million pieces of free literature and other resources to both the public and health professionals. We also give talks to childminder groups, nurseries, schools, colleges, universities, community groups and any others who may request them and provide a freefone helpline, open every day of the year. Why we need your support Meningitis is one of the few illnesses in modern Britain that can kill a healthy child within hours of the first symptoms, and no other illness produces such mutilating injuries. Nearly every day in Scotland someone contracts meningitis or septicaemia. Every two weeks someone dies, and two others are left with life altering affects such as multiple amputations, brain damage, hearing or sight loss. Our expertise has been pivotal in the fight for a Meningitis B (Men B) vaccine and we have funded crucial research to ensure this. A licensed vaccine is now available in the UK and Ireland, and has been recommended for introduction into the childhood immunisation programme and we will be monitoring progress and efficiency. However meningitis is still here and our challenge is ensuring our awareness messages are spread as widely as possible. Many members of the public believe meningitis and septicaemia are no longer threats, because they hear about vaccines having been made available and see them on the childhood immunisation programme, but this is not the case. Meningitis is also a major cause of acquired deafness in children; the most severely affected survivors have such profound neurological damage that they are never able to lead independent lives. It is a leading infectious cause of death in UK children and every recent study of child deaths in this country has cited Meningococcal disease (MD) as a significant factor. Timing is critical – as the patient can be close to death within hours from the onset of the first symptoms. Recognising the symptoms and giving immediate treatment with antibiotics, can literally be the difference between life, death or serious lasting after effects. Prevention is our ultimate goal - research is key and raising awareness is vital. We have a multitude of events and activities for people to take part in and we can support you in your own events.