On behalf of Scotland's supporters TACC will be provided grants and other donations to an organisation called EMAUS. Established in 1979, EMAUS is a non profit organizaton working in the area of social aid. It's target groups are the disadvantaged including the care and welfare of venerable children.  With 12 homes in the Alicante province EMAUS provides a safe and secure enviroment for thes children aged between 0 and 18 years.  In the current financial climate with government funding reduced and more need for care in the community, EMAUS desperately need financial support to continue their good work.

EMAUS suffers from the same needs as anything we've come across in Eastern Europe. Our grant will be funding a new playground at one home, and a small football pitch at another, bringing a little bit of fun to their lives.       Clothes & toys appeal As well as our financial support we also kicked off an appeal for clothes, school supplies, kiddies blankets and soft toys especially for the baby home. The Scottish FA and one or two supporters offered to transport these over for us. Party  We also organised a children's party with pipers etc.

Pictures drawn by the children at the home.	Ludo and Claire, winners of the Kiltwalk prize draw.
The cheque	Cat, Ally, Ludo, The Caley Pipe band and the Monkey
Before - waste ground at the children's home...our grant will be used to create a decent sports area for the children.

For more picture see the Donation Day - Spain 2011 gallery

When Ali Hunter and John Deans of the Tartan Army Children's Charity (TACC) came over las September to meet us and learn more about Emaus, we could never have imagined the extraordinary events that were about to unfold. After seeing the children's homes first hand and spending time with Montserrat Fitur, the President of Emaus, the TACC donated a whopping £15000 towards a sports programme for the children.

 
After viewing a piece of rough ground at the back of the Altea home, it was agreed that the money was to be spent on a sports field. This seemed to be an almost impossible task as the land has no access apart from a path in front of the home so all the work had to be done by hand.

This herculean task was undertaken by Mario and his team (with a little help from Tony & Montse, see photos) who manhandled literally hundreds of wheelbarrow loads of sand through a narrow path and onto the land at the same time as being harangued daily by the children “Is it finished yet?”. Slowly but surely the weeds disappeared under the steadily growing sand base. The goalposts were painted one end in Barcelona colours and the other in Madrid colours at the request of the children and seats were found for spectators. When the grass was eventually laid out the whole pitch seemed to take shape and the painting of the white lines finished it to perfection.

It's difficult to work out who gets the most benefit from projects like these, is it the children who get to play on a brand new pitch at their home, to the envy of their classmates, or could it be people like ourselves who are privileged to be part of these projects and are able to see them through from start to finish. One thing is for sure, all those who contributed to the TACC fundraising should feel especially proud of themselves to have achieved this wonderful legacy and to know that children engaged in sports rarely have time to think about their other problems.

 

 

Christmas 2011

 

 

 

The Tartan Army Children's Charity have been able to help the Emaus children again this year by collaborating 

with the "Bags For Christmas" appeal. Thanks to the money raised at the TACC Christmas party we were able to send a donation of £500 to Spain to help their baby unit.

 

 

The Emaus baby unit looks after 14 children all under 3 years old. The money has paid for a small mountain of babies milk, nappies and other essentials needed to keep the unit running. "This amazing and wonderful gift gives us such peace of mind and will last us a whole month" said one of the Emaus carers. Earlier in the year the Scotland fans donated £15,000 towards an all-purpose sports field and outdoor play area for the Emaus centre.

The Tartan Army Conquers Altea

Donation Day - Spain 2011

The Tartan Army Children’s Charity conquered the hearts of the children of EMAUS by throwing a party for them and giving them a massive donation of £15,000. The money will be used to put in a football pitch, a children’s play area and providing much needed items for the baby unit. Their good humour and bagpipe band entertained the children who responded by drawing Scottish national flags and welcoming drawings.

The Tartan Army Children’s Charity contacted Bay Radio in early July regarding a donation to under privileged children in the Alicante area as the Scottish national football team would be confronting Spain in Alicante in the qualifying rounds for the European Championship on 11^th October. As Bay Radio were planning a football memorabilia auction on air at the end of July for the benefit of EMAUS they were naturally the charity to nominate for this donation.

Funding for the donation has been raised by The Tartan Army Children’s Charity through the sale of kilts in their own specially designed tartan which results in a commission being paid to the charity and through their annual Kilt Walk from Glasgow to Loch Lomond. Since the charity was formed in 2005 it has helped underprivileged children in Europe and Africa when Scotland has played international games in their country.

Unfortunately the Tartan Army lost the impromptu football game against the children of EMAUS which also reflected the result of the international game between Spain and Scotland in Alicante.  Although the Scots may have been the losers on the day they scored a huge success by winning the respect and the gratitude of the children of EMAUS.

All parties involved, Bay Radio, The Calpe Bed Centre and of course EMAUS would like to give a big thank you to The Tartan Army Children’s Charity for their generosity and kindness.

Thanks to TACC Supporters......

Our donation wouldn't be possible without the help of the hundreds of Scotland supporters who have contributed in some way...so thank you to...

- The 500 supporters who bought a TACC Spain (or Liechtenstein) t-shirt, raising £5,000

- Everyone at our Annual Charity Ball at the George Hotel on Friday 23rd Sept, raising £5,800

- Everyone who donated clothes and toys (and some beautiful hand made blankets)

- Badenoch & Strathspey Tartan Army who donated £200

- Mother & daughter Anna and Bethany Leaver, who raised £420 at their joint birthday party

- Paul Toner and Overton TA who raised £500 at their race night

- The Bus Pass TA for their generous donations

Thank you...

• £15,000 grant to fund a sports area at a children’s home
• A truck of baby and children’s clothes donated by fans
• A party at the main children’s home with pipers
• “My first Spain match”, a group of children from the home taken to the Spain vs. Scotland match

When the Spain fixture was announced we thought that we might struggle to find a children’s charity as desperate as those we’ve come across in Eastern or central Europe.

Unfortunately we were wrong, the children supported by EMAUS have the same heart-wrenching stories that we come across in less developed countries while the funding situation for the organisation is dire.

EMAUS run a group of 12 homes in the Alicante area supporting babies and children up to the age of 18. The children have either been removed from or abandoned by their parents for a variety of reasons ranging from poverty to abuse.

Government funding has been cut to the minimum to the extent that even basics such as nappies aren’t available without donations.

After months of discussions with EMAUS representative Tony  we agreed to make a £15,000 grant towards the development of a sports area on a waste ground behind their main home. This project will meet TACC’s aims of adding some fun, recreation and sport into the lives of the children who deserve and need it the most. The pictures below are what it looks like now; we’re really looking forward to seeing the “after” photos.

As always we also funded a party to mark our visit on Monday 10^th October, with several TACC supporters and of course the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band. The pipers stole the show as usual by walking down the road to the home to the cheers of the children. The band’s mascot Monkey was also a big hit.

After a slap up lunch of paella we had a kick about with the children, letting them win of course……honest.

And in the evening some of the children were able to go to the Spain match, an priceless treat for them courtesy of TACC and the Stratford End Bar in Alicante.

Unfortunately we aren’t able to show any of the children in our photos as it could put them in danger.

Lastly we organised a truckload of bay and toddler clothes and toys donated by Scotland supporters.

After the trip we received this email from the Governess of EMAUS to TACC’s Ally Hunter who along with John Deans organised the Spain donation.

You can not imagine how much I regret that your team lost the match on Tuesday. I felt sorry for the affection I have for you in particular, and the organization that you represents and also for all the followers who have flown to Spain to see the match.

I also thought of the number of European’s O.n.g .that they do not know about you; that they will not have happiness with your charitable initiative, like the children of Emaus had.

In addition, all the Scottish people whom I interacted with - including the game-viewers- behaved like true gentlemen, without a bad gesture, or a cry, cheered up after the game without resentment, and allowed themselves to have a picture taken with the Spanish people, giving them their beautiful hats and colorful, full of pins from halfway around the world.

True gentlemen!

And, what should I say about the satisfaction of the children who watched the game? For them, it was all new, never been before in a stadium, their look in their eyes, his gestures, his admiration for the players who have only seen on TV.

I'm sure they'll never forget that day, which for them was full with magic!
And as for you, you are my friend of heart and forever.

You will never imagine my gratitude for everything you do for us. The photos from Monday can not reflect more happiness on the faces of our children; they talk and talk and never end about the football match that they play with you. I'm sure that the next day in the school, they didn´t spoke of something else.

 

And your postcard with the beautiful scenery of Scotland ... and a wonderful message that speaks of the good heart of the person who writes it!

I will carry it in my chest, and on the left side, where the heart is, that wonderful Celtic brooch, with that bright red highlights in it, like a drop of blood, blood of two brothers, Celtic ancestors in our two cultures, remembering that in Scotland lives a very, very good man, who heads an institution to help the most disadvantaged children, with a heart as big as he, looking clean and happy to help those who need it.

And me, who I am one of the lucky people who know you, I wish for you and yours: "Slainte agus huile beannachd mhor duit."

I am sending you a photo where Simon, the youngest child of the house, It's very funny, "Mr. Monkey", hanging from the tree, and the child giving the drum is almost bigger than him. You know you can not post the picture, unless you cover his face.

A big hug friend, my love, my sincere affection and admiration.

Where to donate?

Ally and John from TACC recently visited Alicante in preperation for the next TACC donation. TACC are making a donation of €17,000 to an organisation called EMAUS.

Our grant will be funding a new playground at one home, and a small football pitch at another, bringing a little bit of fun to their lives.

Below is a clip from Bay Radio - Ally was interviewed by Bay Radio to help spread the word of the Tartan Army donation and EMAUS.

Bay Radio were delighted with the generosity of the Tartan Army:

" I am still in awe of what you guys do. I have worked with a charity, Race for Life, and I know how much effort goes into fundraising and have done all sorts of sponsored events to raise money including the Camino de Santiago and sometimes the output v return is crazily weighted against you, so such a large donation for such little effort is a true gift. Restores ones faith in humanity. Thank you."

Tartan Army foot soldiers who want to contribute - check back for information on TACC events in Spain. Details will follow shortly.

TACC also featured in the printed press - 'Costa Blanca News' 23/29 September - click on the image below to see the full article.