Planning and Organising for National Transplant Week

There are ideas for planning and organising events on www.thetransplanttrust.org.uk with a special fundraising pack available to download and advice about obtaining sponsorship, creating publicity and budgeting for the event.

A total of 2,382 people received organ transplants from April 2009 to February 2010 – with 2,497 cornea transplants.

One donor can save the life of several people, or restore the sight of two others – but it’s not only organs that have to be donated, as there is also a shortage of bone marrow, tissues, cord blood and platelets.

Figures for transplant success rates are improving all the time, with over 81% of heart transplants, 93% of liver transplants, 96% of transplants using kidneys donated after death, and 77% of lung transplants surviving the critical first year.

National Transplant Week – Awareness and Education

National Transplant Week is run by The Transplant Trust, the leading UK Transplant Charity, and aims to raise awareness and educate the public about the benefits of organ and tissue donation.

Running from 4th July to 11th July 2010 a wide range of high-profile events take place throughout the week, with information, educational materials and merchandise available in an orchestrated drive to stimulate discussion and interest in organ transplant.

The week also features regularly in the media, newspapers, radio and TV: personal case studies are often highlighted by the press and give much needed publicity to the campaign.

Often high profile people sign up to be an organ donor in public. Stands and displays are organised throughout the country, and the Donor Bus is a frequent sight on city streets, manned by a team who are often themselves the recipients of transplants, who hand out balloons and freebies and encourage people to become donors.

National Transplant Week – Events and Games

National Transplant Week works closely with the World Transplant Games, the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, featuring a nine-day series of sporting events when UK athletes join others from some 55 countries, all of whom have undergone an organ transplant.

There are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved in awareness events including national campaigns and networking on the high street and at a local level.

The Transplant Trust relies on money raised by a dedicated team of supporters and volunteers throughout the country.

Planning and hosting a fundraising event is a rewarding way of helping in the vital work and can be fun too.

Signing Up for National Transplant Week

However there is still a chronic shortage of donated organs, with over 10,000 people on the waiting list.

Of these, more than 1,000 people die every year before they receive the transplant they need: with more awareness and prior discussion this situation could be improved, as forty per cent of relatives refuse permission for loved one’s organs to be donated mainly because they don’t know what their wishes were.

The good news is that a record number of people are now signing up with 16,932,946 people currently on the Organ Donor Register.

National Transplant Week – 4th July to 11th July 2010

When the parents of five-year-old Lucy Pearson were told that their daughter, who was born with a complex congenital heart condition, would not benefit from further surgery and that they should try to enjoy the remaining years they had with her, they refused to accept defeat.

Lucy was put on the transplant register in late 2005 and a suitable donor was found the following year.

Since then, Lucy has made a remarkable recovery and is able to live life to the full, doing all the things a healthy young person enjoys like running, swimming, riding and eating proper food. “We realise that none of this would have been possible without the fantastic gift that some selfless person and their family have given me,” Lucy told the Transplant Trust, “We can never thank these people enough. Words cannot express how my parents feel.”

Lucy is just one of the thousands of people who survive thanks to the forethought and generosity of transplant donors, but there are many more on the waiting lists who will die before a suitable match is found.

If you want to save a life after your death, it’s possible to register online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23. Lines are open 24 hours.

External Links:
The Transplant Trust
NHS Organ Donation

Armed Forces Day – 26th June 2010

Armed Forces Day was set up to honour the outstanding contribution made by the men and women who currently serve in the Armed Forces, as well as the veterans who did so in the past.

It also offers an opportunity for civilians to meet with local members of the military forces and learn more about their work.

The First Armed Forces Day

The Armed Forces Day event was inaugurated in 2009, and marked concerns about a “growing gulf between the Army and the nation” expressed by General Sir Richard Dannatt, former head of the army.

Celebrations in 2009 centred on the Chatham Historic Dockyard – previously a Royal Navy Base – and were attended by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sara, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and head of the Armed Forces Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and Defence Minister Kevan Jones.

Held in gloriously sunny weather, the day proved to be a resounding success that helped to promote a better understanding of, and respect for, the armed forces.

Exciting flypasts of historic aircraft including the Red Arrows, Hurricanes, Spitfires and Lancasters took place.

Royal Navy ships were opened to visitors, and military displays were joined by those of the RNLI and Fire and Rescue Services.

At more than 200 events that took place in other parts of the country, members of the armed services wore their uniform with pride, from Eastbourne to Manchester and up to the Scottish Highlands where the public was able to take part in practical demonstrations and fundraising or watch displays, parades and marching bands.

Veteran’s Day

Armed Forces Day was instituted to replace Veteran’s Day, observed since 2006.

The date of 27th June was chosen as the day after the anniversary of the first investiture ceremony for the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria, held in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857.

A special flag based on the Union Jack was designed by the government for the occasion which is organised by councils and businesses.

Events for Armed Forces Day

The chosen location of the 2010 Armed Forces Day is Cardiff: a city with a strong military history that houses the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh at Maindy Barracks.

A week of celebrations commences on 21st June, with a flag raising ceremony at the Castle and includes the arrival of a Royal Navy Warship at Roath Basin on the 25th.

The main event on June 26th centres on the Cardiff Bay Area, with a National Armed Forces Day Parade forming up at Cardiff Castle, prior to a service at Drumhead.

Further details and programme of events taking place can be found on the website at www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Armed Forces Day Worldwide

Armed Forces Day has been celebrated in many nations for some years to honour their respective military forces on varying dates.

In Australia and New Zealand for example, ANZAC Day held on April 25th commemorates 1915 when Australian and New Zealand forces fought against the Turkish at Gallipoli.

In Brazil, Dia do Soldado (Soldier’s Day) is celebrated on August 25th: the birthday of the war hero Luis Alvés de Lima e Silva.

In China, Army day is celebrated on August 1st: the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army in 1927.

Russia holds a Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23rd.

In the US, Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 as a result of the unification of the military services and is held on the third Saturday in May, although separate observance of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coastguard Days still continues.

In the UK, Armed Forces Day is a happy occasion for showing united support on a single day.

For the many people who would like to show their appreciation for the brave men and women who serve their country all the year round, there’s a great opportunity to do so via Twitter or Facebook pages, see the links below.

External Links:
Armed Forces Day
Events for Armed Forces Day 2010
Armed Forces Day on Twitter
Armed Forces Day Facebook page

Waste and Resources and Action

Now in its fifth year, the campaign is run by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme): a not-for-profit company supported by funding from DEFRA and the DTI, in partnership with the administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The week is supported by local authorities, schools and businesses, when hundreds of events take place across the UK highlighting the importance of recycling, as well as informing and raising awareness of the benefits to the community.

Recycle Now Week – 21st June to 28th June 2010

If you want to know the answers to those pressing questions about recycling such as…

What items can be recycled?
When is Compost Awareness Week?
What is the Mobius Loop?
What is the point in recycling anyway?

…then look no further!

For these are all things that can be learnt during Recycle Now Week that runs from 21st to 28th June: an annual event held to “kick start new habits that can help us all want to recycle more”.

If you want to find out what’s happening in your area, help take part or organise some of the activities, enter your post code on the Event Finder on the Recycle Now website.

While you’re on the website, it’s a great place to pick up some recycling tips and information about recycling symbols (Oh, so that’s what a Mobius Loop is!), how to reduce packaging, and cool eco products.

If simply knowing which bin to put out on which day of the week confuses you (and it does me!) – all is revealed with such infectious zeal that you’ll be motivated and enthused to “find out something new, do something new or generally do more of what you already do”.

Kerbside Enthusiasm

The good news is that nowadays nine out of every ten houses has kerbside collection: residual household waste has decreased by 22% since 2000/01, equivalent to an average of 16kg per person per year across England as a result of campaigns like Recycle Now.

Slightly worse news is that although 73% of packaging produced in the UK can be recycled, only 33% actually is – surely some room for improvement there.

But what actually happens to all our carefully sorted rubbish when it leaves the house?

If you’ve ever plaintively opined the question “why?” when rinsing out cans of cat food at the kitchen sink, the Recycle Now website can provide you with some of the answers.

Plastic Beach

Our discarded household items are being turned into commodities that are valued across the world.

Once the rubbish leaves the kerb, it’s taken to a Materials Recovery Site where all the different types of material are sorted by hand or machine, and sent to manufacturers who then transform it into brand new products so we can buy them again – adds a new meaning to materialism doesn’t it?

Millions of tonnes of material are recycled every year, with the result that all newspapers in the UK are made from recycled paper and over 80% of glass is used to make new bottles and jars.

Recyclables like plastic waste garner high prices in countries such as China, where there are not so many natural resources: there’s also the added advantage that carbon emissions are minimised, energy is reduced, and materials are not being landfilled.

Stray Toasters

The theme for this year’s Recycle Now week focuses on old electrical items: you know, those things we’ve all got hidden away at the back of cupboards, or shoved in drawers – that Walkman that was state-of-the-art back in the 80s, or the 1970s ghetto blaster you just can’t bear to throw away because you saved up for it for months!

Basically anything with a plug, a battery, that needs charging or holds a crossed out wheelie bin logo – kids’ toys, broken kettles or toasters -  can all be dropped off at the local recycling centre where their valuable components of plastics, metals (including gold, silver and copper) can be recycled and turned into new electrical items.

And when you hear that last year 173 million electrical items were sold, as well as 27 million mobile phones, not to recycle waste seems like such… a waste!

St Swithin’s Day – 15th July 2010

Most people probably wouldn’t wish the British climate on their worst enemies but, if we are to believe an old weather rhyme, there’s one person who should receive his fair share of blame for our unpredictable weather: St Swithin.

St Swithin’s Day if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain.
St Swithin’s Day if thou be fair
For forty days ‘twill rain nae mair.

In other words, if it rains on July 15th – St Swithin’s Day – we need to invest in a new brolly.

Science and St Swithin’s Day

Is this really a true reflection of the British weather?

According to the Met Office, when records were checked going back 55 years, it was discovered that (with the possible exceptions of 1985 and 1995) the weather on St Swithin’s Day was not necessarily replicated by the next forty.

Nevertheless, there are two possible weather patterns that occur in the middle of July, and some believe that these have formed the basis for the myth.

If the jet stream – a fast wind current that blows around the earth – lies north of the British Isles in July, then we’re in for some continental, high pressure weather; if the jet stream lies to the north however, Arctic currents usher in weather systems from the Atlantic.

Or maybe it’s just that the British weather is completely inexplicable.

St Swithin’s Story

Whatever the reason, we’ve conveniently been blaming Saint Swithin for something that is probably beyond his control, but as forecasting the weather is as unreliable as the alleged powers of the venerable saint himself – and folklore is far more interesting than meteorological tables – we’ll stick with old story!

Saint Swithin was in fact the Bishop of Winchester, who lived during the reign of King Egbert and died in 852.

Chaplain to Egbert and ordained by Helmstan, Swithin’s elevation to Bishop was a direct result of being appointed tutor to the king’s son Aethelwulf, with whom he was a great favourite.

He was said by all accounts to be a pious and frugal man who invited the poor to banquets and always carried out his ministrations on foot.

According to The Golden Book of Legend, if any church fell down or was in decay, St Swithin would amend it “at his own cost”.

His best known (and rather unspectacular) miracle took place on a bridge, when he was said to have restored a basket of eggs belonging to an old lady that had been broken by men working on the nearby church.

St Swithin’s History

The most interesting thing about St Swithin’s life in fact came after his death.

Because he believed himself unworthy to be buried in a church, he issued posthumous orders that his body be buried outside in a “vile” place where “it might be subject to the feet of passers-by and to the raindrops pouring from on high”.

And so he was duly buried outside the west door of the Old Minster at Winchester.

Over one hundred years later, after he had been made the patron saint of Winchester, the monks decided that he should be moved to a more glamorous resting place within Aethelwold’s basilica at the cathedral: a move that conveniently fitted in with Bishop Aetholwold’s plans to turn the Old Minster into a shrine-church, centred around the relics of St Swithin, and on 15th July 971 his body was interred in what had become the largest church in Europe.

As the monks tried to move him, it was said that the saint was so displeased there was a clap of thunder and a tremendous deluge of rain…

It was this event that gave rise to the legend of St Swithin’s Day.

St Swithin Likes Them Apples!

The saint’s anger probably didn’t improve much when his body was later dismembered and distributed to various locations as relics: an arm in Peterborough Cathedral, and head in Canterbury Cathedral.

In 1093 the main shrine was established at the new Norman Cathedral at Winchester, where hundreds of pilgrims visited the “holy hole” behind the high altar to pay their respects.

Another downpour of rain that occurred on St Swithin’s Day in 1315 most probably added to the legend.

Symbols of raindrops and apples are associated with Saint Swithin because there is another proverb that says that when rain falls on St Swithin’s Day, the saint is “christening the apples.”

To this day, apple growers ask for St Swithin’s blessing on July 15th and no apples are picked before that date, after which it is believed they will ripen fully.

Volunteering England

Now in its 26th year, Volunteers’ Week was in the first instance administered on a local level.

In order to raise the profile of the Week, the National Centre for Volunteering took over the running until 2004 when a new integrated national agency called Volunteering England was formed – together with Volunteer Development England and the Consortium on Opportunities for Volunteering.

Currently the agency is working on a wide range of projects, including the Inspiration and Legacy Project that aims to increase the number of volunteering opportunities in areas of sport, the environment and the arts, making sure that everyone who is inspired to volunteer by the Olympic and Paralympic Games has the chance to do so.

Volunteering England also works towards providing activities to support the role of volunteers in the National Health Service, and helps to develop the infrastructure for volunteering in sport, in conjunction with Sport England.

Volunteers: Inspiration and Opportunity

Volunteering opportunities can be sourced from the Volunteers’ Week website which provides inspiration for work in such diverse areas as the Justice System, Environmental Health, Defence Volunteering, Emergency Services and the Arts.

These newer choices can be found alongside the popular alternatives of working in Charity Shops, fundraising, volunteering with animals, or working within the community.

It also works with employers of businesses to run formal employer-supported volunteering programmes.

For anyone wanting to take part in Volunteers’ Week, it’s possible to register online at the website www.volunteersweek.org.uk where information, event ideas and resource packs can be downloaded.

The new logo, posters, certificates, flyers and branded merchandise are available from mid April.

Volunteers’ Week - 1st June – 7th June 2010

It takes a special kind of person to be a volunteer and often the only reward is a personal sense of achievement.

Most volunteers would say that this is more than enough, so it’s a good thing a public recognition of their endeavours takes place in Volunteers’ Week from 1st to 7th June each year – when a host of events are organised by volunteer managers and the general public to raise the profile of the growing number of people who donate their time and energy to help the community.

In 2009 more than 380 activities took place across the country, to demonstrate public appreciation in the form of Awards Evenings, tea parties, team challenges, fashion shows, sponsored walks and even pampering sessions.

Trumpet Voluntary!

As well as giving recognition, Volunteers’ Week also provides an opportunity to find out more about becoming part of the voluntary sector.

During the week, taster sessions are organised and special red buses tour the cities, encouraging new recruits to get involved in volunteering.

Recent research has shown that there has been a rise of 115% in the number of people applying for voluntary jobs as in these days of recession, more and more members of the public are recognising that the first-hand experience offered will not only benefit society, but also help with finding future employment.

Volunteering is satisfying, rewarding and a way in which to develop new skills and meet inspiring people.

But above all, Volunteers’ Week offers a chance to change things – and ensures that those who already do so are shown to be appreciated.

External Links:
Volunteers’ Week website
Volunteering England

Father’s Day – 20th June 2010

For centuries, countries all over the world have venerated and idealised mothers – and the tradition of Mothering Sunday has always been celebrated in style. Fathers on the other hand didn’t get much of a look in at all!

When the idea of instituting a day to commemorate fathers was first put forward in the USA in 1911, it was met with a certain amount of laughter and derision on the part of the media and public. Why this should have been so is not clear - presumably fathers were deemed far too macho to need any public manifestation of affection…

A Modern Day Father’s Day

Origins of the modern Father’s Day are attributed to several sources, but it’s most likely that we have to thank a young lady called Sonora Smart Dodd, who lived in Spokane in Washington in the early twentieth century.

The story goes that whilst listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at the local church, Sonora was inspired to arrange a tribute for her own father – a Civil War veteran named William Jackson Smart – who had raised a family of six including a newborn, after the death of his wife in childbirth.

Later, Sonora decided to try to make the celebration official, receiving the backing of the church and the YMCA and in 1913, after much lobbying, the bill was introduced to Congress.

Thank You, Richard Nixon

Although Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge supported the idea, it was President Lyndon Johnson who signed a Proclamation in 1966 to make the third Sunday of June a federal holiday, and in 1972 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day.

The commemoration was for grandfathers and forefathers, as well as providing recognition of the role played by the patriarchal member of the family unit, that contributed so much towards creating a stronger and more stable society.

In the meantime, commercialization linked to the event had set in, and as early as 1938 the National Council for the Promotion of Father’s Day, formed from the Associated Menswear Retailers, was incorporated to turn the day into an opportunity for profit.

The tradition of Father’s Day soon spread to other countries and is observed on the same day as the US in 52 different countries. In predominantly Catholic countries, Father’s Day takes place on Ascension Day.

Celebrations take many forms: in Germany ,for example, Vaterstag is an opportunity to do some male bonding and get drunk, as men across the country go off on hiking tours pulling small wagons called böllerwagen – that contain wine, beer and regional food.

Thank You, Dad

Nowadays, fathers are expected to be nurturers as well as bread winners, and are more likely to spend time completing daily household chores, filling the washing machine, emptying dishwashers, cooking and looking after the children as much as mothers.

It’s become customary to buy the old man a pair of socks or even a tie on Father’s Day to show how much you love him, but this year, how about surprising him with something a bit out of the ordinary?

Here’s some ideas guaranteed to bring a smile to dad’s face:

arrange a picnic where you can play some of his favourite sports or games, or go on a cycle ride with him;
invite his buddies round for a fathers’ get together,
cook a special Father’s Day meal (steak and chips goes down well!);
buy him a gift with his name engraved upon it – like mugs, wallets, a shaving kit or a tankard;
treat him to an Experience Day (he’s always wanted to go sky diving!),
take him out for a meal in his favourite pub;
buy him a ticket for a concert or football match or a t-shirt printed with a photo of you, his loving offspring…

…go on, you know he’ll appreciate it!

Traditions of Father’s Day

According to historians, Father’s Day was celebrated as long as 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by a clay tablet found in the ruins of Babylon that holds a carved a message wishing a father a long and healthy life from his young son Elmesu.

The tradition appeared to continue with the Romans, who honoured their dead fathers every February, but in most countries any celebration didn’t survive the transition to more modern times.

World Environment Day – For All Nations

The first World Environment Day took place in 1973, and is coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme on the same day every year to “give a human face to environmental issues” – to empower people to become more aware of environmental problems, and become involved in the search for a sustainable future and improved quality of life whilst also promoting a partnership between people of all nations.

Taking place in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, WED has a distinct focus each year and is hosted by different countries.

World Environment Day – 5th June 2010

Many Species, One Planet, One Future is the dramatic theme for this year’s World Environment Day, taking place on 5th June 2010.

World Environment Day (WED) was created to celebrate the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm on June 5th 1972.

This was the occasion that marked the first international cooperation between governments on problems relating to the global environment – with the intention of taking remedial action.

World Environment Day 2010 – Many Species. One Planet. One Future.

In 2010 the theme “Many Species. One Planet. One Future.” reflects the multiplicity of species and ecosystems in the world, as well as the importance of preserving its environmental richness.

To reflect the theme of biodiversity Rwanda, the East African “land of a thousand hills” was chosen to be the Global Host of World Environment Day: a country that at present is making a transition to a more sustainable and green economy.

As the home to more than 1,000 plant species and 13 different primates – including many rare and endangered groups such as mountain gorillas – Rwanda’s capital Kigali is ideally placed as venue for this global celebration.

Rwanda: An Example of the Challenges Facing the Global Community

The East African country faces many challenges relating to poverty and land degradation and deforestation.

Acidification has been caused by heavy rainfall disrupting ecosystem nutrient flows, and many precious African fauna and flora species are on the verge of extinction; as one of the three countries that is home to the 720 surviving mountain gorillas (the other two being Uganda and DRC), Rwanda has to deal with illegal trafficking and poaching.

Recently, the country has pioneered a move to address climate change and environmental issues by embracing a Green Economy and investing in renewable energies like solar power and biogas generation.

National environmental campaigns have also been instituted including a universally applauded ban on plastic bags, and the development of a conservation corridor for chimpanzees.

Putting the World into Environment Day

Although Rwanda is at the centre of the global celebration, there are hundreds of other events taking place around the world to mark World Environment Day 2010.

The day marks an occasion when everyone can become involved in promoting an issue that is of universal concern and affects all people equally – from the poorest to the richest nations, from individuals to presidents, and from conglomerates to sole traders.

The 2009 WED was hosted by Mexico, and saw an unprecedented number of activities taking place around the globe with people in over 80 countries including Kenya, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the US, signing up to register events

Campaigns ranged from tree planting drives, expositions, community clean ups, bird watching trips, street rallies, green petitions and nationwide schemes. Thousands of people joined the Twitter for Trees campaign and contributed to the Daily Do Something Tips.

Anyone can organise or register an event on the website at www.unep.org

In doing so they will become part of the worldwide movement to celebrate the environmental richness that makes up the planet today, as well as helping to shape a more sustainable way of life for generations in the future.

External Links:
World Environment Day 2010
United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP and WED 2010 on Twitter
UNEP Facebook page
UNEP on YouTube

Deaf Awareness Week 2010 – 28th June to 4th July 2010

Over one hundred deaf charities are uniting beneath the umbrella organisation The UK Council on Deafness for “Look at Me”, the banner adopted by Deaf Awareness Week from 28th June to 4th July 2010.

The theme aims to highlight the different types of deafness and explain the many different methods of communication used by deaf people.

The word deaf is used to describe a whole range of conditions relating to deafness: according to figures from the World Health Organisation, there are currently 278 million deaf people across the world, 80 per cent of which live in developing countries; of these, 25% became deaf as children.

Other types of deafness include people who have become deafened later in life, deafblind people, the hard of hearing and people affected by tinnitus, all of whom use different forms of communication.

Deaf Awareness Week 2010 in the UK

The year 2009 saw free, no obligation hearing assessments at Hearing Centres when users of hearing aids could have their equipment cleaned and checked free of charge, and clients were offered the opportunity to have their hearing tested and talk to audiologists about any concerns, with demonstrations of the latest technology.

For anyone wanting to get involved with Deaf Awareness Week 2010, the website at www.deafcouncil.org.uk contains advice on fundraising activities with special promotional material available including balloons, collection cans, stickers and posters.

Ideas for events include holding a sponsored silence and Signathons, where participants are sponsored for every word of British Sign Language they learn.

There are many opportunities for schools to get involved, too: ideas can be found at the National Deaf Children’s Society website www.ndcs.org.uk with fundraising initiatives and ways to help children learn about the ways in which deaf people communicate.

There is also information about the wide range of sponsorship opportunities available for individuals and organisations to help fund specific projects, ranging from sports programmes to grants and equipment, weekend events for families of children with hearing loss and worldwide initiatives – as well as those closer to home.

UK Council on Deafness

Founded in Sept 1993 by a consortium of deaf organisations, the UK Council on Deafness aims to achieve full participation in society for all deaf people and create an environment in which voluntary sector organisations working with deaf people can reach their full potential.

The first Deaf Awareness Week was held in America in 1951, and has continued to educate people about the many issues and difficulties that face deaf people in the world today.

In the UK, Deaf Awareness Week sees a wide range of national and local events taking place across the country to “promote the positive aspects of deafness, social inclusion and raising awareness of the huge range of local and national organisations that support deaf people and their family and friends.”

Special events in the past have included shows at theatres like The National Theatre with speech to text transcriptions, tours of museums for the hard of hearing, workshops to assist with doorbell, phones and smoke alarms, meet a hearing-dog sessions, sign language taster classes and a chance for deaf people and hard of hearing to meet with specialists for advice.

Europe Day – 9th May 2010

The name of Europe has its origins in Greek mythology and the seduction of the beautiful Phoenician, Europa, on the isle of Crete by the god Zeus who disguised himself as a white bull.

Centuries of bitter wars and conflicts later, Europe Day was founded to commemorate the continent’s unification and is celebrated enthusiastically by most of the member states that make up the European Union. Possibly the only country where the Day is not embraced with gusto is in Britain, where signs emblazoned with the words ‘To Europe’, point across the channel in the continent’s general direction as though it’s a separate entity and nothing to do with the UK at all!

In fact they might just as well read ‘Here there be dragons’, for although there are many European enthusiasts in the country, Britain also has a tradition of euro-scepticism that construes the political nature of Europe Day as a factor that might influence people to (heaven forbid!) want further European integration.

Europe Together: More than a Song Contest

Throughout most of the European Union, Europe Day is marked by a wide range of activities coordinated by participating organisations and volunteers.

Events have increased over the years with themes varying from country to country, and often involve encouraging the general public, and in particular young people, to think about Europe and what it means to them.

Much of the action is organised through The European Movement, an international pan-European group represented in 41 European countries that aims to contribute towards the founding of a united federal Europe.

Yearly celebrations take many different forms: some countries devote an entire week to European celebrations when millions of people are challenged to think about Europe.

Activities include conferences, awards, poster competitions, intercultural dialogues on radio, sports events, open-doors days to European institutions, street interviews and meetings when local and national politicians take part in debates and talks.

In the past discussion subjects have included subjects like the Eurovision Song Contest and characteristics of European music – although for some, the idea of homogenous European music might be as remote as the idea of a united Europe!

Origins of Europe Day

The origins of Europe Day and the European Union came about through a desire to create economic prosperity and ensure peace and unity in Europe.

There are in fact two separate Europe Days: one established by the Council of Europe on the date of its anniversary on 5th May 1949, and the second created on May 9th by the European Union, also known as Schuman Day.

This date marks the first step towards a single Europe and was taken against the backdrop of a divided continent and the threat of a third world war.

In 1950, the French foreign minister Robert Schuman called for pooled coal and steel production between France and Germany as the “first concrete foundation of a European federation”. As two countries that had recently been bitter enemies in the Second World War, the move to combine the resources that ensured military supremacy was a pivotal moment in achieving future peace and solidarity.

States of the Union

Countries joining the European Union had to agree to respect the freedom and identity of its citizens, achieved through a common economic and social development. Today there are 27 member states, working together for the benefit of the EU’s population of 501.26 million.

At the Milan Summit of 1985, EU leaders decided to celebrate 9th May as Europe Day, although some countries still observe the alternative date of 5th May due to the humanitarian role of the European Council in defending human rights and parliamentary democracy.

Europe Day has adopted several symbols and motifs, with activities revolving around the Flag of Europe: a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background that was first used by the Council of Europe in 1955.

The European Anthem, first launched on Europe Day in 1972, is based on the prelude to The Ode to Joy from Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphony No 9, and the motto of Unity in Diversity emphasises the shared values of member states.

External Links:
Europe Day 2010 Poster Competition
European Commission Website

Liverpool is a large city with a huge heart and this is seen by the lengths and breadths that the city goes to ensure the people of Liverpool get the best education.

In Liverpool people don’t simply stop learning when they reach their teenage and early adulthood years - this city ensures that all adults, all the way to retirees, can carry on learning everything from basic numeracy and literacy to full courses on topics such as engineering to graphic design.

Liverpool is one of the most important cities in the north of England, and reinforces this by ensuring that all people both young and old have the ability to learn through the power of education to improve themselves both personally and in their career.

South Sefton Adult Education Centre

Found in the Seaforth area of Liverpool, this is a great place for adult education. If you are looking for a supportive place to learn as an adult then the South Sefton Adult Education Centre is the perfect place to join.

The South Sefton Adult Education Centre has a wealth of well trained staff that offer great support and training to any adult wishing to learn.

Address:
South Sefton Adult Education Centre
53 Cambridge Road
Seaforth
Liverpool L21 1EZ

Tel: 0151 285 5104

Higherside Adult Education Centre

Based in the Higherside Community Comprehensive School, the Higherside Adult Education Centre is a great place to learn for adults.

The centre is open in the evenings outside of the usual school times, and offers a great range of courses from design to languages.

Address:
Higherside Adult Education Centre
Cumber Lane
Whiston
Prescot L35 2XG

Bootle Adult Training Centre

The Bootle Adult Training Centre is a group of centres dotted around the Bootle area of the city where adults can go and learn a mixture of courses to support their career aspirations and improve themselves.

The Bootle Adult Training Centre is run by well trained and supportive staff so adults can enjoy their learning experience.

Address:
Bootle Adult Training Centre
Dunnings Bridge Road
Bootle L30 6XT

Tel: 0151 525 6686

Workers Education Association

Found right in the centre of Liverpool, the Workers Educational adult learning centre supports those in work with learning courses that fit in with their jobs.

This is a great way for people to learn while having financial support from their employers.

Address:
Workers Educational
The Cotton Exchange Building
Suite 405
Bixteth Street
Liverpool L3 9JR

Tel: 0151 243 5340