Fundraising Dinner Postponed!!!

The fundraising dinner due to be held on 27th May at MacRobert Pavilion Ingliston (in aid of the Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr appeal) has been postponed. The decision has been taken partly in recognition of the overwhelmingly desperate situation in China and Burma/.Myanmar following recent cyclones there, and a desire not to divert funds from where they are most urgently needed.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause anyone who has booked a table and assure you that your cheque will be returned this week. The dinner has not sold out and we feel it would be wrong to go ahead and commit to the expenditure without being certain of maximising the money raised. We are very grateful for all the support and generosity. The fundraising is far from being a failure though. We have already reached £150,000 - 75% of our target amount in pledges and donations. People have been very generous with their donations. While the situation in Bangladesh is extremely serious we are in a position to achieve our target of rebuilding the 2 villages of Kalapara and Nizampur. We think that it is better to use the money we have raised so far to do this, and encourage people to also donate to these other Asian countries in their time of crisis. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to people who have already booked (all the money paid for the dinner will be returned this week) and thank them for their generosity

The Scottish Bangladesh Appeal Fund, which was recently endorsed by the City of Edinburgh Council, is delighted to announce that they have so far raised £150,000 in donations and pledges. The target is £200,000 to rebuild 2 villages in Bangladesh, with cyclone proof housing. Those who have donated include Bangladesh Community organisations in Newcastle, Leicester, Aberdeen and Edinburgh as well as individuals and businesses including Cairn Energy. (Full details will be posted on the web site). All the money raised will be channelled through Action Aid Speed Trust to ensure the most efficient possible use.

You can still contribute to the event and enjoy some special food on 27th May. Why not take part in our “The Lunch Day” event? Bangladeshi restaurants across Scotland are being asked to donate their lunchtime profits on that day to the Appeal Fund. All you have to do to support the idea is to have lunch at a participating restaurant on that day; If your favourite one hasn’t yet signed up – go and encourage them to do so! Look out for the poster in your local restaurant. This is a really fun and easy way to support this very worthwhile cause. Make it a really special event – meet up with family and friends you perhaps haven’t seen recently and enjoy a leisurely lunch, knowing you are also helping someone thousands of miles away to regain their future.

There are approximately 250 Bangladeshi restaurants throughout Scotland and it is expected that most of them will be participating. Those confirmed so far include Britannia Spice, Lancers, the Verandah, Bangalore, Vujon, Pataka, and the Curry Club in Edinburgh and Itihaas in Dalkeith. Various others restaurants in Aberdeen and Glasgow are due to confirm this week.

And of course you can still send in a donation.
(Please make cheques payable to Bangladesh Flood Victim Appeal Fund and send to Scottish Bangladesh Sidr Project Appeal, c/o Britannia Spice, 150 Commercial St, Edinburgh EH6 6LB )

or

Make payments direct to our bank account :
Bangladesh Flood Victim Appeal Fund
Bank of Scotland, Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh
Sort code: 80-02-28 
Account no 00 118 390