Fundraising
Getting it Straight Campaign
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Lead Stories:

Facebook revamp

We have given our young people’s Facebook group an overhaul!  We have changed the name of the group to Scoliosis Association(UK) so that it is easier for our young members to find.  We have also revamped the text and have started adding photos of some of our Youth Representatives.  The social network is aimed at young people up to the age of 25 to share their experiences with scoliosis.  There is no better person to ask all those important questions to than someone who has already been through the same experience.  Our Youth Representatives regularly check the group and respond to comments and questions.  All you need to do to join the group is click on the link and you will be registered immediately.

FREE tickets for members to the Back Show 2009

The Back Show have kindly offered SAUK members free tickets to their event at Earls Court between the 2nd and 4th of October 2009.  You will shortly be receiving your free tickets in the post with the SAUK August mailout. 

Now in its fourth year, The Back Show is the UK’s only event for back pain sufferers and the health professionals who treat them.  You can discover new ways to protect, treat and improve your back. Highlights include thousands of products, therapies and services to try and buy, free seminars giving back pain suffers access to the most eminent specialists in the field, free exercise classes and therapies including Pilates, Yoga, Flexibar, Alexander Technique and a wide variety of treatments such as Indian Head massage, oxygen therapy and Ki energy. The Back Show 2009 is the one stop shop for your back health needs. For more information visit: www.backshowexpo.co.uk.

Sarah Wiles joins the SAUK team

At the start of the year, Sarah Wiles joined the team and has now increased the total number of staff in the Latimer Road office to five.  Sarah began in the new role of Communications Officer in January and will be working half the week for SAUK and the other for BSRF.  The new role was set up to help Rachel the Projects Manager deal with the print needs of the charity.  The next few months will see her take over responsibility for the Annual Report, any scoliosis literature that the organisation produces, an ambitions re-design of the SAUK website , and she will be looking after the Regional Secretaries.

Regional Secretaries and Youth Representatives WANTED!

We are looking for more of our dedicated members to become part of our network of Regional Secretaries.  As a Regional Secretary you will provide additional support to members when they join SAUK.  This entails contacting them by post or e-mail when they join and then giving them additional advice as and when they need it afterwards.  Some people need a lot of initial support through e-mails, telephone conversations and face to face meetings whereas others need very little.  We will support you in your role and provide you with training.  Regional Secretaries are also encouraged to help us fundraise, SAUK meetings if they are in your area and raise awareness of scoliosis in their local communities but this is only if they have time to do so.

We are desperately looking for people down in Cornwall – Do you live in the Truro, Plymouth or Torquay area?  If you do we really need you as this area is without a secretary at the moment.  Are you in the Southend, Colchester or Chelmsford area?  We also need someone here to support our members here.  We also have a big chunk of the midlands without coverage so if you are from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Derby or any of the surrounding post codes please put yourself forward to become one of our fantastic volunteers.

We have also just launched a new younger team of support givers called Youth Representatives.  These are members aged between 18-25 who give younger people support in a similar way to the Regional Secretaries.  The main difference is that they are available by text, Facebook and e-mail as well as telephone and face to face.  We are looking for Youth Representatives across the UK so if you are interested please get in touch.

If you are interested in becoming a Regional Secretary or a Youth Representative contact Sarah Wiles: sarah.wiles@sauk.org.uk

SAUK launches new website forum for younger members

Using the fantastically popular website http://www.facebook.com/, SAUK has set up an online youth forum where young people with scoliosis can exchange their experiences.  To join all you have to do is sign up as a member of Facebook and search for the group Twist and Shout 'Scoliosis Youth'.  Simply click on the link to enter the group and you will be registered immediately.

Scoliosis Campaign Fund announces its 2009 fundraising events

The Scoliosis Campaign Fund is a joint fundraising venture between the Scoliosis Association (UK) and the British Scoliosis Research Foundation.  In 2008 it took part in two events raising over £14,000 for the two charities.  In 2009 it has a fantastic set of seven fundraising activities for people to take part in.  From walking on the South Downs to jumping out of a plane--there's something for just about everyone!  For more information click here. 

Testing for scoliosis in schools

Emma Yeo, a young SAUK member, has started a petition to encourage testing for scolioisis in schools.  Please sign her petition at:

www.thepetitionsite.com/1/start-testing-for-scoliosis-in-schools

Fundraising Made Easier

If you are planning a fundraising event for SAUK there is now an even easier way to donate.   SAUK has signed up to the Just Giving website - a site dedicated to helping charities and individuals raise funds.

The registration takes as little as five minutes and provides you with your own fundraising page.  Just give yourself a title, write a message to your friends and add a photo.  Then email the address of your page to everyone you know, here and abroad and start collecting donations online!

The site allows the general public to access your page and make donations to your chosen charity.  This is a fantastic way to maximise the amount you raise!

All donations are transferred automatically into SAUK's bank account - you don't even have to chase any cash or cheques!  As SAUK is registered with the site, one off donations can also be accepted online. 

For more information please visit www.justgiving.com/scoliosis or contact Rachel Hannam at the SAUK head office.