MY PRESS RELEASE FOR 'THE LAST COLONIAL WAR' AND HOW I HOPE THE BOOK WILL HELP FIRST BASE TO RAISE THE FUNDS WE NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER

PRESS RELEASE

MANAGER WRITES 25TH NOVEL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR STRUGGLING FOODBANK

Once again the First Base Agency Foodbank is facing an uncertain future. The Dumfries based charity expects to issue over 3000 emergency food parcels over the coming winter via its 23 collection points across the region.

The charity faced similar problems last winter when only enormous support from the local community enabled them to survive the winter. This year it seemed the charity could look forward to a much easier ride. Unfortunately, several very hopeful funding avenues have resulted in nothing. This has left Manager Mark Frankland angry and frustrated.

'We really didn't think we would be having to face yet another funding crisis this winter. We are not alone of course. All kinds of small front line charities who do the day to day donkey work of helping people facing poverty and destitution are in the same boat. It feels like every door which looks promising just keeps getting slammed in our face."

Frankland is particularly angry about one of the potential sources of funding which has failed to deliver.

'Last spring our local Council discovered £2 million of Anti-Poverty Funding which they had somehow managed to lose down the back of the sofa. We heard all kinds of encouraging noises. Just be patient. Wait until the Autumn. This should make a real difference to you.... Well, Autumn has arrived and now it seems they have found some small print which means the money can't go to front line charities after all. It seems the money can only be spent by the Council and it cannot be made available to the voluntary sector. We were hoping to apply for £15,000 which would have covered our funding shortfall. You can maybe imagine how we felt when we heard they will be spending £15,000 on offering training to Councillors and officials about why people are falling into poverty. Guess who is doing the training? A charity from outside of the area! It's pretty hard to take. I know lots of our local councilors and believe me, they know all about why so many people are getting so poor."

Once again First Base is hoping to raise the funds they need through an online funding campaign. To help the funding drive, Frankland has written 'The Last Colonial War'. Many of his previous novels have focused on the hardship and desperation so many First Base clients face. His new novel is rather different.

'No, this book has nothing to do with First Base. I guess it is rather commercial, to be honest. Maybe some people will find the story a little provocative. I don't mind so long as plenty of people give it a read and hopefully are minded to leave us a small donation on our JustGiving page.'

'The Last Colonial War' is set in the summer of 2030. A newly independent Scotland is booming whilst England is battling sky rocketing unemployment, vast street riots, and capital flight. A desperate English Prime Minister is becoming frantic. With his back to a wall and his country facing growing anarchy, he chooses a last throw of the dice and orders the invasion of Scotland.

'Well, it isn't like it hasn't happened before! England has plenty of previous when it comes to marching its army over the border at Gretna. And when leaders find themselves at a low ebb they often see a quick, popular war as the best way to revive their flagging fortunes.'

Frankland is publishing the story chapter by chapter on his blog page over the next month.

“Anyone is more than welcome to give it a read free of charge. With luck, plenty of readers will be willing to make a donation and keep us afloat. If anyone wants to read it in one sitting, it is on sale in the Kindle Store for £4. All the profits will go to First Base of course."

Frankland is saddened by the fact First Base is once again facing such a precarious future.

'Whether politicians like it or not, Foodbanks are now a vital part of the Welfare State. They really need to stop the denial. Last year over a million Brits needed to use a Foodbank. The rest of the Welfare State received over £400 billion. Foodbanks got nothing. Foodbanks are far too important to be left to struggle like this all the time.'

Anyone wanting to read 'The Last Colonial War' can find the book at marksimonfrankland.blogspot.co.uk

The first chapter will be released on Sunday, September 17th.

CONTACT DETAILS

markglenmill@aol.com

01387 279 680

07770 443483