CHARITY CORNER


HELPING HANDS: WHY CHORLEY CABBIES ARE DELIVERING TAKEAWAYS TO HELP THE NEEDY


Chorley businesses are working together on a new project to support the borough’s homeless - which will see taxi drivers deliver takeaways to the needy. Helping Hands is the idea of Shaz Malik from the Chorley Taxi Association (CTA), and is a collaboration with Chorley United Reformed Church open kitchens, led by Brenda Lambert, which has been serving food for the needy every Thursday since 2012. Shaz met Brenda seven years ago when he first donated food, and recently decided to extend the support, with the backing of CTA directors. As a team they have


encouraged several local busin- esses to join the Helping Hands initiative, including Texas Steak House in Bolton Road. Owner Saqib Mohammed has offered a 70% discount on food to support CTA Helping Hands. Owner of Cream Curls dessert parlor in Eaves Lane, Samir Asif and manager Salika Asif, have offered an 80% discount on a range of desserts for Brenda’s kitchen. William Foran, owner of Foran and Blake hairdessers is offering a 66% discount to the needy referred by Brenda. Brenda’s team will use their budget to order discounted meals from the shops on board,


and they will be delivered at no charge by members of the CTA to the church on a Thursday. The CTA is also covering the percentage cost difference


to


small local businesses from their membership fees. No referrals are needed for the open kitchen. Shaz Malik said he was keen to be able to offer homeless people the same food he would eat “rather than the cheapest options”. He said: “We are more than just a ride in our community. Let’s bring people together in our local community and work towards a common goal of making a difference.”


EDINBURGH COUNCIL MAKES U-TURN ON CHARGING CABBIES FOR ANNUAL TAXI OUTING


Edinburgh taxi drivers will no longer be charged by the council to use The Royal Mile on their annual outing. The cab drivers organising this year’s Edinburgh Taxi Outing in June were quoted a figure understood to be around £1,500 to have planters blocking traffic on the High Street temporarily moved. Following calls for any fees for the long-running event to be waived, the local authority had said they would be free to shift the large boxes themselves or alter their route by


turning left down


Cockburn Street. Cockburn Street However, announcing the U-turn, council leader Cammy Day said there would be no charge and said the issue “has now been resolved”. Taxi Outing secretary Keith Bell


PHTM JUNE 2024


which marks its 77th year this year – then “costs for the work would be at the expense of that organiser”. The Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh hit out, saying despite efforts to uplift the spirits of vulnerable children, “bureaucratic hurdles erected by the council” threatened to


“undermine


said: “I was confident this was just a bureaucratic misunderstanding and that once the relevant people became involved the matter would be sorted, and I’m glad it has.” It is understood that earlier in the week organisers were told the cost could be reduced to £400. In an initial letter the council said events wishing to use a route which requires planters to be moved – including the taxi outing


altruistic endeavours”. The tradition sees the capital’s cabbies treat local youngsters with special needs, life-limiting con- ditions and terminal illnesses to a day out parading through the city in their balloon-clad taxis, soaking spectators with water pistols. The planters were installed in 2020 to make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle during the pandemic.


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