Welcome to the April 2014 edition of the
SiMBA Highland Journal!
The beginning of 2014 has proven to be a busy time
with so many events happening throughout the UK for SiMBA as the charity continues
to respond to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby.
Tain Royal Academy Youth Philanthropy Initiative
In November 2013 I was delighted to receive a phone
call from Eilidh, a 3rd year student at Tain Royal Academy. She and
fellow pupils Georgia, Jordan and Becky, had chosen SiMBA as the charity they
wished to represent at the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. As well as raising
awareness of the charity, each group that wins for their charity receives a
cheque for £3,000.
It was so heart-warming to meet with the students,
who showed a great deal of understanding of the empathetic approach required in
promoting SiMBA charity. We were delighted when they reached the final whoch
was held on 28th March 2014. Though the girls did not win we are so
proud of how well they represented SiMBA and very grateful for their hard work.
Thank you also to our SiMBA Volunteers Marion
Hamilton and Megan Foulis who worked very hard with the students.
Caithness
andSutherland Midwifery Forum
My SiMBA co-facilitator Irene and I were pleased to
be invited to attend the February meeting of the Midwifery Forum for Caithness
& Sutherland. This busy team covers one of the largest, most rural areas of
NHS Highland, working in the community and at the Henderson Maternity Unit in
Caithness General Hospital.
It was good to share with them about the work of
SiMBA throughout the UK and specifically in the Highlands, and to talk about
how together we can respond to the needs of their patients who go through the
tragedy of miscarriage, stillbirth or neo-natal death.
SiMBA Office, Dunbar
In Feb 2014 Irene and I enjoyed our first visit to
SiMBA HQ in Dunbar. Volunteers are welcomed here on a daily basis by Sara
Fitzsimmons, Charity Director, Gillian Wells, Office Administrator, and
Danielle, Office Receptionist. If you would like to volunteer to help pack
Memory Boxes or get ready for some of the events SiMBA runs, contact Gillian on
admin@simbacharity.org.uk.
Cake Sale at Scottish Marine Institute
SiMBA were delighted
to receive £130 from The Scottish Marine Institute who held a Cake Sale at their
workplace. This has been given to SiMBA via the SiMBA Great Glen Challenge.
Golspie Quiz Night
The Northern
contingent of #KayakTeamSiMBA held a very successful Quiz Night, brilliantly compared
by Malcolm. Funds raised on the night have been given to SiMBA via the SiMBA Great
Glen Challenge.
Scottish Cot Death Trust
I was delighted to be
invited by Lynda Bathgate, Community Services Nurse with the Scottish Cot Death
Trust to join her at a Paediatric Bereavement Study Event held at Raigmore
Hospital in March. It was an interesting event bringing together professionals
from SUDI, Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland, Hospital Services,
Chaplaincy Services, Registrar’s Services and GP Services. Lynda and I hope to liaise
on more events throughout the Highlands and Islands in the future.
SiMBA Cinderella Ball, 15th Mar 2014
The SiMBA Cinderella Ball was a prestigious Black
Tie event at The George Hotel in Edinburgh ~ it was an incredible evening and was
a unique way to support SiMBA. Our hosts for the evening are Grant Stott
and Marie Clair Munro who helped SiMBA raise an incredible amount of money. The
surprise for me of the evening was the announcement that SiMBA wish me to take
on the role as Charity Ambassador to the Highlands and Islands, a huge honour
and privilege.
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
On the 17th March one of our SiMBA
Volunteers Jane Philip was delighted on behalf of SiMBA to receive a cheque for
£100 from the RAOB Elgin branch. We are very grateful to Drew and his fellow chapter
members for their support of SiMBA.
Soroptomists International Inverness and Nairn
The members of the Inverness and Nairn branch of
Soroptomist International continue to support the work of the charity in their
area. They held a very successful coffee morning in March in Inverness to raise
funds and awareness for the charity and I was honoured to be able to attend. We
are very grateful for the work that the group does to promote the charity and
enable us to reach those whom the charity can support.
Inverness High School
I was delighted to meet with a fantastic group of 3rd
year students in March at Inverness High School They have chosen SiMBA as the
charity they wish to represent in their Youth Philanthropy Initiative. We want
to thank them for choosing the charity and wish them all the best as they put
their presentation together.
Miami Quiz Night Tue
15th April 7.30pm
The
SiMBA Quiz Night will be a great evening of fun as teams of 4 & 5 compete
as they battle it out to become Quiz Champions! There will be a fantastic
raffle on the evening and Miami Nightclub, 39 High St, Inverness, are offering
great prices on their drinks.
For
more information click HERE
Inverness Support
Group meets Thur 24th April 7pm
The Inverness Support Group continues to meet on
the last Thursday of the month from 7-9pm at the Hilton Lighthouse (http://www.hiltonlighthouse.org/). Do pop by for a coffee/tea and chat in a warm,
welcoming setting, and bring any photos or memory items you wish to share.
It is not a professional counselling group, all our
group facilitators have had training and certification from the Child
Bereavement Charity.
Contact Susan on 07771358382 or email
simbahighland@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a lift. Find
us HERE on
Facebook!
Oban Support Group
meets Fri 26th April 7pm
The Oban Support Group continues to meet on the
last Friday of the month from 7-9pm at the Regent Hotel (http://www.bespokehotels.com/regenthotel). Do pop by for a coffee/tea and chat in a warm,
welcoming setting, and bring any photos or memory items you wish to share.
It is not a professional counselling group, all our
group facilitators have had training and certification from the Child
Bereavement Charity.
Contact Susan on 07771358382 / 01631 720107 or
email simbahighland@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a lift. Find
us HERE on
Facebook.
Annual Butterfly Release, Oban, 28th
June
SiMBA are delighted to host the first Annual
Butterfly Release in the Oban area on 28th June 2014.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list
for this please email Susan on simbahighland@gmail.com.
SiMBA 2014 Great Glen Challenge, 29th
Jul – 1st Aug
Highland SiMBA are incredibly excited about this
momentous challenge for 2014!
From Tues 29th July to Friday 1st Aug
2014, 29 brave souls will be paddling by kayak or Canadian canoe from Fort
William to Inverness along the Great Glen. 92km, 22 miles of canal, 4 days, 4
lochs, and 1 monster!
Applications to join as a kayaker / canoeist have
now closed but we are still looking for volunteers to help on shore. Contact
Susan on 07771358382 or simbahighland@gmail.com for further information and to
volunteer or sponsor a kayak/canoe.
Please do stop by and like our page HERE.
Annual Butterfly Release, Inverness, 2nd Aug
We are already taking enquiries about the Annual
Butterfly Release to mark the planting of the Inverness Tree of Tranquility. It
will be held on Sat 2nd Aug 2014.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list
for this please email Susan on simbahighland@gmail.com.
Please do join us HERE on
Facebook.
If you wish
information on any of the items included here, would like to volunteer for
SiMBA, or would like to invite me to talk to a group, please contact me on
07771358382 or email simbahighland@gmail.com.
Kind regards
Susan Simpson
SiMBA Highland
Ambassador
