Lifeline Winter Newsletter
December 2008
Christmas Wishes As the sun dips a wee bit lower every day reflecting the weakening thermometer on the wall, we wish you peace. We hope that you too can find a space for yourself where you can rest and recharge your energies for the New Year which invites us on in hope and courage. Here at Lifeline we find that we need to be bearers of hope and courage to so many women who come to us for help and strength as they struggle with their difficulties. It is not an easy time for anyone. However, spare a thought for those women for whom the future looks like a bleak wintry horizon. We commit ourselves to be there walking alongside them. The Credit Crunch and Debt As the credit crunch bites and more and more women (and their partners) find it difficult to manage their pre-existing debt, and meet their payment demands, we at Lifeline are concerned about the crunch’s impact on mental health. Our concern is that too many women, especially single mothers might be falling into debt despair. As the economy weakens more women will experience money related stresses on their mental wellbeing, especially depression, anxiety and stress related problems as their debt becomes more unmanageable; some even reach the stage of feeling suicidal. According to the statistics one in eleven people report being in debt or arrears, a great many are women. While our counsellors are not debt counsellors we commit to offering psychological support through counselling to women suffering stress, depression or anxiety due to debt problems. We value every woman because of who she is, not what she has. Our promise: hope and solidarity.
Domestic Abuse and Pregnancy Here on Leith Walk we are becoming more sensitive to the very strong link between pregnancy and domestic abuse. The statistics are chilling. Domestic violence has been identified as a prime cause of miscarriage or still-birth and also of maternal deaths during childbirth. Some pregnant victims of abuse are tempted to suicide.Thirty percent of domestic abuse cases begin during pregnancy. Something seems to change for the male partner and violence raises its unwelcome face. In fact a high miscarriage rate and poor foetal development can be indicators of constant violence to a woman. Doctors, midwives and Health Visitors are all very aware of this dark side of pregnancy and are very vigilant as they support mothers to be. There is a possibility that a child could be registered as at risk even before he or she is born. The problem is that some women will terminate a pregnancy because they feel that they can not bring their child into such a situation. They will then tell the father that they suffered a miscarriage. They deny themselves the joy of having their children and they return to a relationship which is a parody of love. Even worse, all too often, it ends in their death. We are becoming more sensitive to this torment. We are making adjustments so as to accompany them as they empower themselves and protect their children. We shall promote their wellbeing so that they can choose a life free from fear. We wish to share with them hope in despair, and strength in a time of anxiety. The only wreath we want to bring is made from Holly and reminds us all of hope.
Our number, just in case - 0131
557 2060
Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling and Care 24a Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AF. Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling (Scotland) is company limited by guarantee - number SC 173781 and a charity registered in Scotland - number SC 026943
Lifeline Winter Newsletter
December 2008
The Charity Lottery It is not easy for charities these days. Because of the global economic down-turn many organizations are in great difficulties. Funding is being cut everywhere. Jobs are on the line and those who work in this sector are facing difficult times. Large fund raising events have been cancelled all over Scotland. The hundreds of billions of pounds aimed at rescuing the banking sector will eventually be paid for by the rest of us. Governmental giving will be sharply reduced. Now on top of that we learn that 70% of Lotto cash is earmarked for the London Olympics until 2012 and possibly beyond. Scottish charities are being put under great pressure and this feels like a double whammy. The implication for Lifeline is that just as we are preparing to expand our services into the rest of the country, the finance question will become even more difficult. Very often charity supporters do not realize just how important they are for any organization. So, we just want to thank you all for knitting, providing baby equipment, fund-raising, volunteering in the shops, in the centre, on the Board and bearing the torch of Olympians.
Lifeline Charity Shops We urgently need used and still usable things to help us to keep our two shops stocked. After Christmas, if you find yourself hoarding things you don’t want or will never use, please remember you can help women in crisis by giving us bric a brac, clothing, books, toys, DVDs and CDs. Heck, we’ll even take your old Rolex! East of Edinburgh -103 Portobello High Street EH15 1AR (0131 669 2076) West of the city - 206 Gorgie Road EH11 2NX (0131 346 7295) If you haven’t shopped with us try us out. (In each case please do phone first to make sure that the shops are open.) Lifeline Ceilidh - £982.10 31st October 2008 – At St Columba’s Upper Gray St. Edinburgh 6.00pm - 11.30pm, we danced and strutted wur stuff for Lifeline and we made some money. Quiz Night - £151 St. Joseph’s parish hall at Whitburn, West Lothian hosted numerous intellectuals who did battle to show off their grasp of the minutia of life. Again, they had some fun and made some money to support the work of Lifeline. Loretto Bacon Roll Breakfasts in aid of Lifeline - £1,150 in 2008 Last Sunday of every month come along at 10:00am or 12:30pm here at the Church hall Newbigging, Musselburgh. A big thank you to everyone who supported these events
Lifeline Appeal: Would you like to join us? We really need you! We need more Volunteers who would be willing to give a few hours per week. We are looking for Volunteer Receptionists and Administrative Assistants to help keep the office open. We also need Drivers to move baby items etc between the shops and the Centre on Leith Walk.
Our number, just in case - 0131
557 2060
Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling and Care 24a Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AF. Lifeline Pregnancy Counselling (Scotland) is company limited by guarantee - number SC 173781 and a charity registered in Scotland - number SC 026943