Charities for Hilary 2005
ExVac (Exeter College Vacation Project)
ExVac is an Oxford University society and charity that aims to provide holidays and day trips for children throughout the Oxford area. The children selected for the holidays and day trips are those whom we, along with Oxfordshire Social Services, judge to be the most likely to benefit from such an experience. This depends on each case individually, but generally means that they come from backgrounds where they do not have the chance to go on holiday, or find very little stimulation at home during the holidays, often due to a difficult family situation. Leaders are trained by Social Services, so that they understand the types of problems often encountered in order that they can adequately cope with the children.
Marie Curie Cancer Care
75% of people dying from cancer would rather be cared for in their final days at home; at present only 25% achieve this wish. MCCC is unrivalled in that it is the only charity that provides round the clock high quality nursing care totally free to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home in familiar surroundings, supported by their loved ones. This kind of care means that families can gain some respite from their work as carers. They provide specialist care at their 10 hospices throughout the UK. The charity also provides education and training for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. Scientists at the world-renowned Marie Curie Research Institute are at the forefront of research into the causes and treatment of cancer.
Childline (West Midlands)
Childline is the UK's free 24-hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress. Calls are made to regional centres and every day, over 400 children try to call Childline West Midlands but sadly, because we have a shortage of funds and resources only 186 can reach the comfort, advice and protection they are seeking. Children have to ring a number of times and tragically some give up and never call back. We aim to answer each childs call the first time they ring. Childline West Midlands' call centre takes calls from children and young people living in the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Calls are free to the children but childline pays £3 for everyone.
Medecins Sans Frontieres
MSF is an international medical aid agency with a reputation of not only being the first to arrive in a crisis-hit area, but often, the only organisation to be there at all. The movement was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize. MSF was founded to create a movement to deliver independent humanitarian aid wherever it was needed, and particularly one that would speak out about the plight of the victims it helped. To be able to speak and act freely, MSF is completely independent of any political, religious or economic powers. MSF spends at least 80% of donations directly on operations.
ZOV UK
[www.zov.org.uk](www.zov.org.uk]
ZOV UK is dedicated to the welfare of children in orphanages in Bulgaria. ZOV UK concentrates on long term education and welfare programmes and oversee all our projects to ensure that our help reaches and is used by the children who need it most.