News Archive

CBM runners complete Strathclyde 10k

Posted: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 15:01

Ten CBM supporters have completed the Running The Race 10k run in Strathclyde.

Denis Robson with Margot Robson after running the Strathclyde 10k for CBM. Photo: CBM.

A group of ten CBM supporters joined many others to run a 10 kilometre course in Strathclyde, Scotland, on Saturday 17th September.

CBM's Karen Garrott (Country Manager for Scotland), hailed the event as a success, with a constant stream of visitors to the CBM stand. Karen was joined by a team of volunteers, which included students from Edinburgh University who helped her with setting up the equipment, running in the race and generally being there to support the event.

Karen stated that "what was so amazing about the event was knowing that five charities and local churches were all working in partnership with one another to raise awareness about our work in Africa."

Denis Robson - a CBM runner, and member of the CBM Scotland Committee - told us, "Everyone was a winner at Running The Race last Saturday and it was great to see all the charities out in force, as together we can do so much more. Well done to all the CBM runners and organisers for a wonderful day".

CBM's Sports Ambassador, Elizabeth Wright was present to talk about the work of CBM in Africa, and to award prizes to runners, which included Margot Robson who ran for CBM and was the first female to complete the 10 kilometre course.

There's still time to sponsor several of CBM's runners at JustGiving.com

Further Reading

Run for CBM - find out how you can sign up to run for CBM in 2012

Running The Race 2011 - official website

Volunteer - find out how you can volunteer with CBM.
CBM cake stall hailed sweet success despite rain

Posted: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 13:59

Visitors to a fundraising cake stall in a Cambridgeshire city helped raise more than £180 for charity.

On Saturday 17th September, a group of Cambridgeshire CBM supporters braved heavy rain and wind to raise £183.45 by selling cakes to visitors in the cathedral city of Ely.

In the days before, a group of baking enthusiasts and CBM supporters that included Susan Rich of Cambridgeshire, and Tony and Rosemary Garnham and Betty Wells from Norfolk, prepared a range of very tasty cakes, biscuits and other treats for sale.

The money raised from the stall goes directly to support our work overseas.

CBM's Rachel Butler (Supporter Care) and David Stevens (Country Manager for England), would like to thank everyone in Ely who braved the weather to generously support our work by either buying cakes, baking items for us to sell, or by helping on the stall.

L-R: Viv Brickett from CBM, with local volunteers Maureen Akred and Barbara Seekings. Photo: CBM.

David added, "The kindness of our volunteers and supporters is so encouraging."

Thank you

CBM would like to thank all those who kindly made items for the stall, also to Brian and Maureen Akred and Barbara Seekings who volunteered their time to help run the stall and make it a successful day.

Further Reading

Get Involved - find out how you can get involved with a fundraising activity

Volunteer - find out how you can volunteer with CBM

Ultimate Chocolate Brownies - Try making your own treats courtesy of the Kirkby Churches Tuesday Club.
CBM celebrates inclusion during 'International Week of the Deaf'

Posted: Tue, 20/09/2011 - 12:08

Inclusive education is at the centre of CBM's celebrations during this week's 'International Week of the Deaf'.

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people in the world, 80% of whom live in developing countries. CBM has been working with local partners to remove social communication barriers in some of the poorest countries of the world.

Mike Davies OBE, Head of Programme Development at CBM UK, spent 13 years as CBM's Regional Director for East and South-East Asia, where he helped establish inclusive programmes in countries like the Philippines.

For more than half of its 30 year history, the Bohol Island Deaf Project has received financial support from CBM. During this time, it has been able to train teachers of the deaf, who in turn then teach sign language to hundreds of children.

Most classes are integrated into mainstream schools, giving deaf children more opportunities to learn and play with children their age. Some are able to attend regular classes after being fitted with hearing aids that their parents would otherwise not be able to afford. The project is currently field-testing a solar powered unit for recharging hearing aid batteries.

The project has a comprehensive hearing screening programme, and also gives deaf adults a better chance to earn a living wage through the thriving Garden Café.

Of the estimated 1 million people living in the island province, as many as 4,000 are deaf - which is why the Bohol Island Deaf Project continues to offer services to the deaf and to educate the general public about their daily lives as people with a disability.

'Tremendous challenges' in education

CBM's Sian Tesni is a specialist teacher and co-ordinates the CBM Advisory Working Group in the Education of People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind.

"There are tremendous challenges in making education truly accessible to all people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind, but in-roads are being made through the work of people in the field including deaf and deafblind teachers themselves."

The CBM-supported Arca Maranatha school in Bolivia teaches sign language to children and their parents. Photo: CBM.

CBM-supported since 2000, the ARCA Maranatha school in Bolivia, has an established education programme for people who are deaf. All of the school's pupils and most of the teaching staff are deaf or hearing impaired.

The school works hard in the community to raise awareness of its aims and it also provides sign language training for the parents of its pupils.

WWHearing

In 2003, CBM joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch WWHearing with the aim of promoting the provision of affordable hearing aids and appropriate services.

CBM is committed to the aims of WWHearing for the optimum benefit of hearing impaired people worldwide, but with a particular focus on the needs of children and adults in developing countries and the poorest communities of the world.

Further Reading

CBM UK-supported projects in the Philippines

CBM UK-supported projects in Bolivia

WWHearing - official website

World Federation of the Deaf 2011 - event website.
CBM finds novel way of fundraising with cars

Posted: Tue, 20/09/2011 - 08:49
Do you own a banger that's merely gathering dust in the garage? Why not donate it to CBM!

GiveACar is a UK based fundraising organisation that specialises in donating unwanted and scrap cars to charitable causes throughout the world.

They provide a FREE service which is available throughout the UK, and can work with you hand-in-hand in the following ways:
- They can arrange the collection of the vehicle;
- Depending on its age and condition, they can either send it for environmentally safe disposal and recycling at an Authorised Treatment Facility, or to a salvage auction;
This means that a large portion of the proceeds are donated to a nominated charity of the vehicle owner's choice!

"This is a simple and effective way of attracting a new source of donations as well as reducing the amount of unwanted cars lying around." - Dr Bill McAllister, CEO of CBM UK.

Since GiveACar was set up in 2010, the organisation has already raised over £450,000 for over 500 charities.

Arrange a collection

To arrange a collection of a car, visit GiveACar.co.uk or call them directly on 020 0011 1664, quoting CBM as your preferred charity.
CBM joins global day of prayer

Posted: Fri, 16/09/2011 - 13:56

CBM UK will be supporting the National Leaders Summit 2011 "Carry The Torch" day of prayer which is held on Saturday, 17th September 2011.

This is a historical opportunity for all churches in the United Kingdom to pray for our nation.

"Together we can change the world: one prayer, one life at a time." - Dr Bill McAllister, CEO of CBM UK.

Every day CBM is working to improve the lives of people with a disability across the developing world.

God's love in action

Dr. McAllister adds “people are seeing God’s love in action. God is being praised and glorified and together we are unified in reaching out to impoverished people with disabilities; in changing a world that is hurting, one life at a time.”

Further Reading

CBM's Core Values - Christianity is at the core of CBM's values

National Leaders Summit 2011
Fresh flooding hits Sindh province of Pakistan

Posted: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 15:56

Heavy rains and flooding have hit Pakistan 12 months after the disastrous floods of 2010.

Displaced people are building makeshift huts amongst the floodwater that has engulfed the Sindh province. Photo: CBM/CHEF.

Several districts of Sindh have been engulfed by water after heavy rains fell in the area, devastating crops, livestock and disrupting communication systems, according to officials of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The district of Badin has been worst affected, where more than half of the local population (more than 1.5 million people) have been displaced. In one village, 500 houses have been destroyed, leaving people taking shelter in makeshift huts surrounded by floodwater.

Authorities estimate that around 80% of the cash crops in the Sindha province have been damaged and more than 4.5 million acres of land is now flooded.

CBM and its partner CHEF International are assessing the needs of those most at risk.

In the short-term, tents, water filtration equipment and mosquito nets will be issued to those affected by the devastation.

Supporting those most at need

CBM has been working with partners in Pakistan for more than 30 years, providing essential treatment, rehabilitation and support to those most at need.

When severe flooding occured in July/August 2010, CBM and CHEF delivered medicines and much needed support to those who were displaced when thousands of homes were swept away, and millions of acres of farmland were destroyed.

Further Reading

CHEF Programme - The CBM UK-supported Comprehensive Health and Education Forum programme.

Floods In Pakistan - 2010 CBM UK News Article