313 APRIL 2021 - Gryffe Advertizer

Open Book & Paisley Library Shared
Reading Group
Join Open Book and Paisley Library for an hour of shared reading on
Wednesday mornings, looking at poems & stories from the weekly
Unbound newsletter. This is a free event organised by Paisley Central
Library and sessions run fortnightly on Wednesdays from 11.30am - 12.30
noon. No experience necessary. Ages 16+.
Get your zoom link at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-book-andpaisley-library-on-zoom-tickets-113605127996
Learn more about Open Book Unbound at www.openbookreading.com/
unbound/ and sign up for the Unbound newsletter.
Open Book organise and run weekly shared reading sessions for a
diverse range of community and public participants across Scotland.
Part of a book and a poem are read aloud during these relaxed and
informal sessions, with an Open Book Lead Reader on hand to help
guide the discussion. We regularly run creative writing sessions for our
readers, using the material the group is reading as inspiration to create
new writing.
Dates: 14th & 28th April, 12th & 26th May, 9th & 23rd June.
Great Guide Dogs Virtual Tea Party
Pop the kettle on and join us for a cuppa this April as we take on another
Guinness World Records attempt! Whilst we unfortunately are still unable
to have a big face-to-face tea party safely, that doesn’t mean we can’t
have fun by coming together online to show people with sight loss that
we are still here for them no matter what.
Whether you plan to join the party on your own, with family, colleagues
or as a fundraising group, let’s make a difference and be record breakers
together.
To get involved and for full details visit guidedogs.org.uk/teatime.
local community, local life ............... 10
For one week every May we see
the posters & bunting, and a red
donations envelope drops though
our letterbox to be picked up
later in the week by a volunteer
collector. And, following the covid restrictions last year,
on-line donations were also made possible through an
“e-envelope”.
This year’s Christian Aid Week will take place from 10th to
16th May.
But what is Christian Aid? Why does it exist? What does it
do?
At the outset it is perhaps worth clarifying what it is not.
It is not “aid for Christians”! Christian Aid is committed to
supporting poor and marginalised people, whatever their
beliefs, sexuality, gender and ethnicity. It is a signatory
to the international Code of Conduct which sets ethical
standards for aid work and, among other things, promises
that aid will not be used to further a particular political or
religious standpoint.
These days it is not even limited to “aid from Christians”.
Because of its excellent record in tackling poverty and the
causes of poverty, Christian Aid is now funded by generous
donations from a wide variety of people with diverse
religious beliefs.
But there is a core belief running through everything that
Christian Aid does. Christian Aid believes that everyone
is equal in the sight of God. Poverty is an outrage against
humanity. It robs people of their dignity and lets injustice
thrive. But together we have the power to transform lives.
Started 75 years ago, Christian Aid now operates in nearly
40 countries promoting sustainable development, striving
for social justice and pursuing a vision of a world without
poverty. It works with local partner organisations which
have first-hand knowledge of the practical needs of the
poor in their area and are able to ensure the sustainability of
initiatives to lift communities out of poverty.
Christian Aid is also prepared to challenge governments and
systems on the underlying causes of poverty. It played a
leading role in securing international Government agreement
to cancel the debt burden which was crippling some of the
poorest countries in the world. In many countries, it has been
able to champion the status of women and unleash the huge
contribution they can make to lifting their communities out
of poverty. Today Christian Aid is not only addressing the
very real and immediate impact of climate change on some
of the poorest communities in the world but also challenging
governments on their response to the climate crisis.
For more information about Christian Aid please visit: www.
christianaid.org.uk . And get ready for that red envelope –
real or “virtual”! Details to follow next month.
Photo: Janice B & Pups
06-11 FEATURES 313_SPRING-APR21.indd 10 01/04/2021 14:34:01