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.
The first chapter will be released on Sunday, September 17th.
CONTACT
DETAILS
markglenmill@aol.com
01387
279 680
07770
443483
Have you got a link, for the "just giving" page?
ReplyDeleteI am releasing everything tomorrow
DeleteDon't have a kindle Mark and the Kobo store doesn't know you ;-(
ReplyDeleteFFS. So sorry to hear this news but I'll be buying the book at I'm sure it will be a cracker.
ReplyDeleteDonation on its way Mark . Its not much but every little helps and adds up quickly.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and look forward to the book.