Week 14 - Save The Children

£5 feels like such an insignificant amount sometimes.  When I started this challenge I wondered if the tricky thing would be finding charities or appeals to donate to, or maybe avoiding duplicating charities.  I never expected to feel stingy about only giving £5.  But I am going to stick to the rules.

Like the majority of you I have been viewing the plight of refugees from Syria with a mixture of emotions.  Horror that human beings are being forced so brutally from their homes.  Shame that our government has been so slow to act and so limited in it's offer of assistance.  Admiration for those who are taking things into their own hands and trying to help the best they can.  And a feeling that I should do more.

So hopefully I will be able to give to a series of charities who are currently helping the refugees, both here and abroad.  First choice is Save The Children.  The amazing Caitlin Moran and Pete Paphides were so moved by the refugees that they have embarked on a project to release a charity single.  The song is Help Is Coming by Crowded House.  Mat Whitecross has created an incredibly moving video to accompany the song which is introduced by Benedict Cumberbatch.  The song is available via iTunes, there is a limited edition 7" vinyl and yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne announced that he will waive the VAT on sales.

All proceeds are going to Save The Children who are working in 17 countries from Syria to Great Britain to help children who have fled the war zone and arrived, many alone and without their parents, both in neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Jordan and along the route in the most affected countries like Turkey, Greece and Italy all the way up to Norway and Denmark.  They are providing essentials like food, water and shelter, setting up centres where the children can clean and make calls.  They are also looking forward, helping children return to school and providing psychological support.