Tavira based Animal Charity ADOTA Associação dos Animais de Santa Luzia was founded in 2014 by two local Portuguese women, Alice Gil and Cristina Dentinho. The charity has the support of both Portuguese animal lovers and other nationalities in and around Tavira. They are passionate to ensure everyone can be included in their work, especially children and people with disabilities.

Children’s charity ACCA, set up to support youngsters in need across the Algarve, continues to raise funding through a range of activities that change hundreds of lives every year.

Be it through the supply of glasses for children with sight problems, therapy for kiddies with psychological needs, medication and treatment for youngsters with severe health problems or special equipment for those with a physical handicap, ACCA is there to help, support and make a difference. And at Christmas time, the charity brings a smile to small faces through its Angels programme by providing gifts for kids – 1,700 in 2015 – who would otherwise receive nothing.

The annual Christmas Lunch at the Fatacil Restaurant in Lagoa, plus a Bring and Buy Sale at Faro Moto Club, and other donations for cakes and mince pies made by Dee Shirley, and Paté made by John Tavener resulted in a fantastic total of €1000 being presented to Dr Ricardo Xufre, manager of the Gaivota home for teenagers in Albufiera.

Kindness, generosity and the Christmas spirit were out in force at Almancil International Rotary Club’s Christmas Market held on Sunday December 6th. At Jardim das Comunidades in Almancil. Organised in collaboration with the Freguesia of Almancil, the event raised a grand total of 3,100 Euros.

The money is to be donated to the Associação Social e Cultural de Almancil (ASCA) and will be used to help fund a new crèche for children from birth to 6 months old and a kindergarten for children from the age of 6 months to 12 years.

Support Algarve childrens charity ACCA by buying a selection of their wonderful greetings cards.

Every cent from the sale of the cards goes to the causes that ACCA supports.

Rotary E-Club Porches International is pleased to report on the success of their annual Christmas Market held 21-22 November at Galeria Arte Algarve in Lagoa.

A total of € 3,885 was raised to finalise a Club project to purchase an electric forklift truck for the Portimão Food Bank warehouse.

AEDA (Riding for the Disabled in the Algarve) would like to thank all those who attended and sponsors who supported the fundraiser on the 19th November.

Solar do Poeta Bar & Bistro in Almancil was the perfect venue; with hosts Lil, Glen, chef Sean and the team offering fabulous food and excellent service. After dinner entertainment with live music from Megan May and Jane Hennessey rounded off a very enjoyable evening.

Whilst former Dragon Duncan Bannatyne languishes in the jungle, his friend and ally Chris White, founder of Ideal Homes Portugal has been dreaming up a way to support him.

Duncan has been facing some interesting challenges including handling the rather tricky Lady C whilst competing on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. He has remarked on his Facebook page that 'Lady C is cuckoo!' but he seems to be doing a terrific job of being peacemaker in the camp.