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The Box Appeal, a charity campaign that aims to help those most in need by filling a box with essential everyday items has returned to Bahrain for its second year. This year’s campaign runs throughout October.

In addition to The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Residence and Spa, 10 other hotels will take part including all nine Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in the UAE and Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis in Egypt.

The Box Appeal asks people to give to those who need it most by filling a small box with a list of everyday items. To take part, pick up a box from The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Residence and Spa, Bahrain or any DHL outlet, fill it with one of each item listed on the box itself, and return it to the hotel or DHL.

The Box Appeal, which started last month, has been extended this year due to feedback from participants who took part in 2011. An overwhelming consensus felt more boxes could be collected if the appeal was held post summer. This gives everyone more time to collect boxes and, the more boxes collected, the more people the campaign can help.

For a full list of locations of where you can pick up boxes, or for any further information, visit facebook.com/theboxappeal

Klara Zakis, manager PR and Communication MENA,
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

As I am sure you have guessed by now we are all a little bit ‘off the wall’ at Rainbows For Kids and we are always looking for a new way to have fun.
 
After seeing a report in an English newspaper about a Scarecrow Trail event that is taking place in a Lincolnshire village, we thought: why not have our own mini-version here?

So, on Thursday, starting at 9am and continuing until 10am, Rainbows For Kids in Muharraq will be hosting the first-ever Bahrain Scarecrow Trail Treasure Hunt, followed by dancing, cake and fruit juice.

Each age group, plus some of the teachers and perhaps even parents, will be making their own Scarecrow. The Scarecrows will then be positioned somewhere in the communal areas indoors or in the playground.

The children have to ‘find’ the scarecrows to find and collect the clues in order to get some treasure. Aside from the obvious fun factor, we can use this idea to cunningly help the kids overcome any fear they may have of clowns, mascots and masks etc as they take part in making the scarecrows.

If any GulfWeekly readers feel moved to make a Scarecrow and bring it along we will be more than happy to add it to the trail.

We will even award the best visiting Scarecrow a cup! We just need it to be there a day before for a photo shoot. We can be contacted on info@rainbowforkids.net

Christine Hassan,
by email.

TEACHER Martyn Wharrie was given the red card and sent home to get changed after wearing a football jersey to a sportsman’s dinner at the British Club.

The red-faced English master at the British School turned up to see his hero Peter Taylor, Bahrain’s head coach and the former manager of his favourite soccer team Hull City, which the coach took to two league promotions.

The newly-arrived teacher, who only moved to the kingdom in August with his Australian wife Kathy, also an English teacher, comes from Driffield, a small northern market town near Kingston upon Hull.

“I felt like a naughty schoolboy but I honestly didn’t realise there was a dress code. I quickly rushed back home to get changed out of my Hull City shirt because I didn’t want to miss the event.

“The coach is a footballing hero back home for taking the Tigers up the English leagues and it was amazing to find out he was here in Bahrain. I wouldn’t have missed the talk for the world!”

Taylor was booked for an after-dinner engagement at The Ascot Restaurant on Thursday evening and the club has a strict dress code for such occasions: smart casual and strictly no jeans, T-shirts, shorts or football shirts!

The Whisperer, GulfWeekly’s wise columnist, had warned footy fans about the dress code, but Mr Wharrie, 54, who now resides in Mahooz, had missed reading the item. “In future I’ll make sure I keep up with the news in GulfWeekly!” he said as he posed for a photograph and chatted with the coach after the meal.

Mr Wharrie has followed Hull City, currently playing in the Championship, the second tier of English football, since the age of eight and has also taught in Hull, Beverley and Brunei. 
A spokesman at the British Club said: “We have to keep our standards up.”

*Ironically, one lucky football fan walked out of the dinner with a football shirt! St Christopher’s School Year 10 pupil Arjan Hanson-Singh was given a signed shirt featuring the England Under-21 team coached by Taylor, which beat Germany in 2006.

It included the autographs of some of today’s biggest Premiership stars including Theo Walcott and Anton Ferdinand. Taylor donated the shirt and a seat number raffle was staged for the prize.