Sowing the seeds of progress with NGS North East

When Wade Financial client Liz Reid joined the National Gardens Scheme (NGS), the North Shields firm could not help but be impressed with her enthusiasm for raising money to help cancer and caring charities through opening her garden and persuading others to do likewise.

Liz very quickly persuaded Wade Financial to become the first North East sponsors of the NGS. Their support helped pay for a booklet publicising all of the gardens that open their gates to the public in aid of this great charity.

When Liz opened her tropical-themed garden in the summer, Wade provided the prize for a free draw, and one of their directors even came down to help out on the day. Over £600 was raised in just a matter of hours.

Now Wade Financial is joining in the call to help find more garden owners to join the NGS.

Ian Little of Wade Financial, said: “We had a great day in Springwell Village, with over 50 people coming along to see the garden and have tea and cake. This is such a fantastic scheme and we are thrilled to be involved. If you are interested in gardening, want some ideas for your own garden or just want something different to do on a pleasant afternoon, you are exactly who we are looking for. The average admission fee is around £3.50, with children getting in free of charge, and you can have a great time meeting new people whilst raising funds for a very worthy cause.”

Where are our great gardeners?

NGS County Organiser, Maureen Kesteven, said: “The NGS is the biggest single annual donor to Macmillan, Marie Curie, Help the Hospices and the CarersTrust – all of which are very active in North Tyneside. Currently we have no openings in the area. We need more gardens to help raise money for these charities that touch so many of our lives. Gardeners here do not seem to be coming forward to show off their talents. Gardens don’t have to be big– just interesting and well maintained – and our friendly local team is happy to advise on how to bring gardens into the NGS scheme.”

“Throughout the country 3,800 gardens open for charity for the NGS. Surely we can match the rest of the country in our gardening expertise.”

Liz, a volunteer organiser for the NGS, said “I got such a buzz out of sharing the garden with people who so obviously enjoyed it – and at the same time raised money for charity. Feel good and fun – what could be better!”

If you would like to open your garden or find out more about the scheme, contact Liz Reid on 07719875750.

Find gardens to visit on www.ngs.org.uk

About the National Gardens Scheme

• Founded in 1927, The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) has donated almost £43m since then, and more than £22 million to charity in the last ten years.
• The NGS gave £2.5 million in 2014 to the nursing and other caring charities from money raised by opening more than 3,800 mainly private gardens in England and Wales.
• The 2014 edition of the famous Yellow Book, listing opening details of over 3800 gardens across England and Wales available to purchase from bookstores and garden centres or it can be ordered direct from the NGS – www.ngs.org.uk for £9.99 which includes all post and packaging charges.

Charities supported by the National Gardens Scheme include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices, Carers Trust, Perennial, Parkinson‟s UK, The National Trust, the Garden Museum and the Royal Horticultural Society.

• In total, the NGS has donated over £14.75 million to Macmillan Cancer Support.
• In total, the NGS has donated over £6.8 million to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
• Registered Charity 1112664

Macmillan and the work of the NGS charities in North Tyneside

In the North Tyneside area Macmillan provides local support to cancer patients, their carers, families and friends. They guide them through the system, supporting them every step of the way. They fund nurses and other specialist health care professionals, but we also give so much more:

People need practical help. Macmillan funds a number of clinical nurse specialists in the North Tyneside area. Macmillan nurses support people when they are first diagnosed and during their illness. They will give help with symptom and pain control; give advice and information on their treatments and psychological and emotional support.

Macmillan services within the area of emotional support have developed significantly over the years with the Cancer Support and Information service at GB Hunter Memorial Hospital. When you’re affected by cancer, having the right kind of information, at the right time, is essential. These Support centres provide up-to-date information about living with cancer, for patients and their families and friends.

People need financial help to cope with the extra costs cancer can bring. Macmillan has benefits advisors in the North Tyneside area working in the community to advise people what benefits they are entitled to and help them to claim.

They also provide grants to people in financial difficulties. Macmillan grants are to help people meet expenses that have arisen from or are associated with their cancer. Grants are available for a wide range of items and services, depending on people’s situations and priorities. For instance, people may need help with fares to and from hospital, additional heating because of increased susceptibility to feeling cold or new better fitting clothing. In 2013 Macmillan gave out 259 grants totalling £41,913 in North Tyneside.

98% of Macmillan’s income is from public donations. Every day a staggering 41 people will hear the devastating news they have cancer. This will see the North East population of people living with cancer nearly double between 2010 and 2030. Macmillan is going to need to keep growing each year to make sure no one has to face cancer alone to keep growing each year to make sure no one has to face cancer alone.

Marie Curie

In 2013/14 Marie Curie had 50 nurses, delivered 33,359 hours of care and cared for 619 patients in Tyne and Wear.

Help the Hospices

In Tyne and Wear Help the Hospices supports the following:

• St. Oswald’s Hospice
• St. Oswald’s Children’s Hospice
• St Benedict’s Hospice
• St Clare’s Hospice

Carers Trust

“This year NGS support will help us reach more carers, improve quality and help to raise the profile of hidden carers. Our centres and schemes across the North East will be able to provide more help and support. We are always extremely for NGS’s very generous support.”

Carers Trust supports and the following Centres locally:

• North Tyneside Carers Centre
• Carers Association in South Tyneside
• Sunderland Carers Centre
• Newcastle Carers
• Carers Northumberland
• Durham County Carers Support
• Gateshead Carers Association
• Crossroads Care Gateshead