Charities

SPANA

Thank you to the many people who have joined forces with us over the years to send regular funds to Spana, helping people make a living and stay alive through their working animals, in some of the harshest conditions on earth.

 

Visit SPANA at www.spana.org
Visit Spana's YouTube channel for more inspirational videos.

SPANA e-news:
Please click here to see the latest news from SPANA
Project Water Trough 2012: Please click here for more information and how to donate now

As well as being dedicated to the service of the musical community, as animal lovers, we have adopted SPANA as one of our favourite charities, and raise funds for it in our shop. We are most grateful to all our customers who have joined forces with us to raise over £ 1,000 a year for this most worthy cause.

SPANA is the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad. It looks after the welfare and often survival of mostly working animals such as horses, donkeys, camels, but also of companion animals and cattle. In most developing countries, the population relies on its animals to help them make a living : they carry water, bricks or wood over many miles every day, carry tourists in Egypt and other places. They often suffer from terrible wounds from painful bits in their mouth, poorly fitted saddles, or simply ignorance about how to treat wounds (some wounds are treated with acid, making them far more painful). Helping animals that provide a sustenance to their owner often means the difference between making a living or not for them. SPANA is therefore not only an animal charity but also a people charity. As well as treating animals, SPANA have set up educational centres, a great way to encourage affection, compassion and respect of animals and their needs.

More than 10 million people and their animals are in desperate need due to the worst drought in East Africa for 60 years. The whole region is in a state of humanitarian emergency. The scale of this crisis is overwhelming – donkeys and livestock are dying in huge numbers and for malnourished families who depend on animals for their livelihoods, the future is bleak. SPANA is doing what they can to help avoid famine by providing a feeding programme for livestock close to starvation.

In 2008, SPANA came to the aid of sick and injured animals belonging to people in the troubled region of Darfur. They funded medications that helped around 40,000 animals. In turn, these animals supported nearly 200,000 people.

Support for Romania

Another charity close to our heart is "Support for Romania". Having taken hundreds of lorries full of food, clothes, medical aid, toys, furniture and other necessities over to Romania over the last 20 years, Anne and Alan Penrose and their friends are taking a much deserved retirement (although some say it may be just a break!) and are now concentrating on raising funds for orphanages, old people's homes, hospitals and needy people in Romania. Over the years, we have supplied them with instruments, some of them donated by customers. Monetary donations for "Support for Romania" should be addressed directly to them at :

17 Llangranog Road
Llanishen, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF14 5BL
Tel : 029 2075 8899

Kampala Music School

In our rich societies, owning a musical instrument and having music lessons are a privilege we tend to take for granted, but for millions of people in poor countries, it can only ever be a dream. The Kampala Music School helps make this dream come true for many children (some of them street children), and we will carry on collecting your unwanted instruments for them (guitars, brass and woodwind instruments are welcome as well as string instruments).

This very worthy charity is supported by students of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, who organise the transporting of the instruments over there.

Watch the video above to see for your yourself how a few people have transformed the lives of many children. 
Website:  http://www.kampalamusicschool.com. 
For any further information on this worthy charity, please ring Kirsty Miller on 07905385505. You may also contact Fiona Carrr at fionacarr@hotmail.co.uk.