LOCAL GROUPS

FOCC Edinburgh West

Area:   A new group of Friends of Chernobyl’s children was started in May 2006.   A new group of Friends of Chernobyl’s children was started in May 2006.  Host families reside in the city centre, West Lothian and the Borders.

Group Coordinator:  Heidi Grant - tel. 01506 650013  Email

In May 2008 20 girls and 5 boys came to stay from disadvantaged families in Mogilev, Belarus.  The groups consists of children on their first, second and third visits and all bonded well together as a family.

As in previous years, the month went far too fast with the children and the host families looking for another week!  Eye tests and dental visits were a priority and the previous years of work for our lovely dentist Annette is starting to pay off with fewer children requiring treatment this year. 

The more exciting visits were football, swimming, visits to the beach and parks with winners of the sports day barely being able to lift their heads from all the medals round their necks.  Line dancing was a new activity and even the boys seemed to enjoy it resulting in this being the opening number of our Scottish ceilidh which was a great success and an even hoped to be repeated for years to come.  The children's faces at seeing men in kilts were priceless.

All 25 families and helpers are already preparing for the children's visit in 2009. The group would welcome day time helpers and willing fundraisers.  All hosts and helpers are checked with Disclosure Scotland.  For more information on our group please contact Heidi Grant at the above number or email at: HeidiRGrant@aol.com

All families involved with Edinburgh West would like to acknowledge that these children could not come to visit and have a fantastic month without the support of our sponsors.  The host families and the children from Edinburgh West would like to thank the following:

Sun Microsystems – Linlithgow * Waverley Bus Company – Edinburgh * The Corstorphine Scout Group * Megabowl – Fountain Park * Mary Erskine and Stewarts Melville Junior School - Edinburgh * Mr Squeezy Magician * Maid of the Forth * Blair Drummond Safari Park * Broxburn Parish Church * Powerleague at Portobello * Tumblezone – Livingston * West Lothian Leisure * Specsavers  - Livingston * LRT * The Scottish Parliament * Dynamic Earth * Tollcross Fire Station * Craigmiller Police Station * Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport *  The Royal Bank of Scotland * The Singing Kettle * The Order of St John* and finally our very own hairdresser Ian McIntosh and our very own dentist Annette Robinson.

Many more people have kindly helped make Edinburgh West FOCC group possible and to you we are all very grateful and would like to say “thank you very much”.

What a difference a month makes…..