The ‘National Living Rage’ Christmas song!

Siobhain McDonagh is the MP for MP for Mitcham and Morden who brought together a group of MPs to release the ‘National Living Rage’ Christmas campaign song to generate higher public awareness of some UK companies who have been cutting the total pay of their long-serving staff, as a result of the increases to the national living wage.

She spoke to Jason McCrossan on 106.9 SFM about the campaign and her desire to raise awareness of the fact that thousands of people in this country, who are already on low pay, are receiving a pay cut.

 

For more information: http://www.siobhainmcdonagh.org.uk/campaigns/nationallivingrage.aspx

 

Hospice singers aim for Christmas number 1

A newly-formed choir of 300 patients, families, staff and volunteers from 18 hospices are aiming for this year’s Christmas number 1 with a cover of “The Living Years” alongside Paul Carrack, who was also lead vocalist on the original 1991 hit  – taking on the might of X Factor.

The aim of the single is to raise awareness of the hospice movement and amongst the numbers within the London Hospices Choir are twenty seven singers from Children’s charity  Demelza who recorded their new take on the classic track at the world famous Abbey Road Studios and shot the moving music video at Clapham’s Royal Trinity Hospice, under the direction of top Hollywood film director Annabel Jankel (Super Mario Bros, Live from Abbey Road).

The choir was brought together to mark the 125th anniversary of Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham Common.

Volunteer Maggie Allen explained why she wanted to take part: “I was so excited when Victoria our music therapist told us about the London Hospices Choir and so thrilled to be taking part in this wonderful project to promote the hospices movement, its achievements and of course to sing together with other hospices. I volunteer at Demelza Kent because I really feel I make a difference to families by offering them massage, reflexology and giving them time for themselves in a caring, safe space.”

Lead vocalist Paul Carrack said, “The Living Years has been an important song for me for many years, but this is the version that means the most. Recording it with this incredibly special group of people for such a worthwhile cause has created some kind of magic. It’s a powerful and inspiring track, and I hope that everyone gets behind it this Christmas.”

Music producer James Hawkins said, “The idea of recording ‘The Living Years’ with this wonderful choir came to me as I was walking around the pond at Royal Trinity Hospice. The song’s message was reflected so strongly as I watched generations come together at a place of such serenity and life to share important conversations. It couldn’t be a better message for everyone to hear this Christmas.”

All profits from the sale of the single will be divided between the 18 hospices involved, helping them to support those reaching the end of their lives, and their families. The hospices include; Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, Harlington Hosice, Haven House, Marie Curie (Hampstead), Noah’s Ark, North London Hospice, Pembridge Palliative Care Centre, Princess Alice Hospice, Richard House, Royal Trinity Hospice, Shooting Star Chase, St Christopher’s, Saint Francis Hospice (Romford), The Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted), St Joseph’s Hospice, St Luke’s Hospice and St Raphael’s Hospice.

‘The Living Years’ by The London Hospices Choir and Paul Carrack is being released on December 16th. It’s available to pre-order now from:

Amazon (Physical): http://smarturl.it/e872qp
Amazon (Digital): http://smarturl.it/ad3krd
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/4sk7sm

Follow The London Hospices Choir at:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/londonhospic…
Twitter – https://twitter.com/choirlondon
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/londonhospi…

Are Age UK overcharging their customers for travel insurance?

Leading independent price comparison website PayingTooMuch.com thinks they might be!

Travel insurance from Age UK is nearly double the cost of a comparable policy from PayingTooMuch.com, potentially leaving customers feeling ripped off and perhaps even putting them off going on holiday.

A two week single-trip policy for a 78 year old male, with pre-existing medical conditions*, to the Canary Islands was £158.16 from Age UK, whereas the same level of cover from PayingTooMuch.com was £79.94.

If you are prepared to reduce cancellation cover from £5k to £3k (more than enough for most travellers) and baggage cover from £2k to £1k, PayingTooMuch.com can provide a policy for only £49.49, which is 31% of the price of Age UK’s policy, whilst still retaining the same level of medical cover (£10m).

Age UK has been under pressure recently due to their energy partnership with E.ON. Regulators are investigating Age UK as their recommended energy tariffs appear to be more expensive than shopping direct with E.ON. and much more than if customers shopped around.

 According to Age UK’s annual report they provided home, car and travel insurance products through Ageas to nearly half a million customers, generating commissions of £18.8m (net) for themselves.

In a statement Age UK answered some of the criticism levelled at them, replying that they never claim to be the cheapest, but provide “competitively priced, quality products and services but we never claim to be cheapest at all times. …. the products are designed to be relied on by older people in an ever changing marketplace.”

Michael Ward, managing director of PayingTooMuch.com, comments:

“Age UK has admitted that they are targeting their products at ‘older people’. Often elderly people do not have access to the Internet and rely on telephone sales, where they are given only one price.

Our elderly customers much prefer using PayingTooMuch.com’s telephone quote service, where they get a range of prices and discuss the options available.
“Age UK has taken advantage of their trusted brand status and is potentially overcharging customers for their energy and insurance premiums. My best advice is to shop around to find the best price for your circumstances. Sometimes you can be ripped off by the brands you ought to be able to trust the most, which shouldn’t be allowed.”

A Bridge over You for Xmas Number 1!

A charity single by The Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Choir which includes doctors, nurses and physios is hoping to make this year’s coveted Christmas number one spot.

The song, “A Bridge over You” features a mashup of the smash hit by Coldplay and Simon and Garfunkel, and is an emotional celebration of the thousands of NHS staff who go the extra mile every day.

Caroline Smith who is an alto voice in the Choir, spoke to Jason McCrossan and Kyra Cross on 106.9 SFM Saturday breakfast show.  Caroline told Jason that as it’s a charity song, all proceeds will be shared between Carers UK and Mind (including Mind’s sister charities in Scotland and Northern Ireland), and in the new year a smaller percentage will also be distributed amongst smaller charities in the New Year.

A number of celebrities have been linked to the charity single and you are encouraged to download the song and tweet or post #loveyournhs – as Jason, Kyra and Jan did!

The song is available from Itunes, Amazon and google.

For more information or support, the NHS 4 Xmas website is here.

 

Santa Paws Comes To Kent

Staff and animals at the Brands Hatch Battersea Dogs and Cats centre are getting into the festive spirit by inviting animal lovers from across Kent and the surrounding areas to join them for some Christmas fun at their countryside centre.

The Santa Paws event features a snowy Santa’s Grotto, which will be open for children to meet a special guest from the North Pole and lots of craft activities including making Christmas tree decoration and creating purrfect presents and gifts for your pets or, you can make presents to donate to the animals of Battersea.

As well as all that there’ll be christmas music, frosty cakes and loads of refreshments – as well as the opportunity to meet their countryside cats and canines up close!

Santa Paws is taking place this Saturday 12th December from 10.30am – 2.30pm.

Standard admission fees apply. Find out how to find them.

Team Rock Trek to Mount Kilimanjaro

Monday Matters reporter Bonnie Britain spoke to Noel Sullivan, Lauren Samuels and Dan Fletcher who are embarking on a trek to Mount Kilimanjaro on the 2nd December 2014 for two charities: The lullaby trust and Bliss.

When Noel was younger, his family suffered two devastating tragedies; at only 6 months old, his brother, Dominic, was lost to sudden infant death syndrome. Just three years later, his sister, Alicia-Monique died prematurely aged nine days of complications relating to a brain tumour.   Noel wanted to find a way to honour his siblings memory and felt these charities best serve this purpose.  He will be joined by both Lauren and Daniel a mammoth 8 day trek to an altitude of 19,341 feet!

Mount Kilimanjaro map

For more information and to donate please visit their page:  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Rocktrek