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Brothers Jasper and Conrad had the best job in the bakery as they got to taste-test the shortbread
Red Cross Week
Update by news editor   09-05-2012

Scotland’s biggest biscuit

Sweet dreams come true for brothers who help Red Cross raise money

It's a sight to make your mouth water - the biggest slab of millionaire's shortbread in Scotland!

Measuring around five metres long and one metre wide, the chocolate-coated mega treat was created to raise money for Red Cross Week 2012.

Two lucky brothers, four-year-old Jasper and two-year-old Conrad, had the enviable job of tasting the cake.

Their mum, Claire, who is in charge of fundraising for the Red Cross in Scotland, said:

"Jasper and Conrad have helped me raise money for the Red Cross before but I think testing the millionaire's shortbread has been their favourite event by far."

The giant biscuit will be sliced into normal-sized portions and sent to Red Cross shops in Glasgow, Perth, Elgin and Aviemore. Customers will be able to buy a piece for a minimum donation of £1.

It is hoped the shortbread will raise at least £500.

The theme for this year's Red Cross Week is "Be One in a Million". The idea is that if one million people in the UK donate £1 each, it would raise £1 million to help the charity in its work here in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK and around the world.

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis at home and abroad. Its workers reach out to people caught up in wars, natural disasters and individual emergencies.

 

Click here to see our interactive Red Cross map

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Scotland’s biggest biscuit

A giant biscuit has been made for Red Cross week. But what does the Red Cross do?

From floods in Pakistan and earthquakes in Haiti, to refugees in Scotland and first aid at the royal wedding, no emergency is too big or too small for the Red Cross.

The charity is a global network of volunteers who help people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. Responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies in the UK and abroad, it reaches around one million people in over 20 countries each year.

Last year in Scotland alone the British Red Cross:

  • responded to 444 emergencies including those caused by flooding and extreme winter weather
  • trained 33,167 people in life saving first aid skills
  • enabled 32,850 people to live more independently through health and social care services
  • helped 571 people through refugee services
  • worked with teachers to reach 22,863 young people with humanitarian education

The Red Cross movement began in 1863 as a voluntary service to help those suffering during times of war. It was inspired by a Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant, who had been appalled at the suffering of thousands of men who were left to die due to a lack of medical care after a battle for Italian independence in 1859.

During the First and Second World Wars the Red Cross helped sick and wounded soldiers and civilians, prisoners of war and ordinary people in need as a result of the conflict, both at home and abroad.

Today the charity still provides relief for victims of war, but also of other emergency situations and natural disasters. Their workers were on hand to help during famine in Africa in the 1980s, major earthquakes for example Colombia in 1999, Haiti in 2010, and Japan in 2011.

In the UK the British Red Cross has responded to emergencies including the Lockerbie air disaster in 1988, the summer floods of 2007, and the English riots of 2011.

Every May the organisation runs a fundraising week. This year's theme is Be One in a Million and aims to get one million people to donate one pound each.

 

Click here to see our interactive Red Cross map

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Experiences & Outcomes

  • I can use evidence selectively to research current social, political or economic issues. SOC 2-15a
  • I can use my knowledge of current social, political or economic issues to interpret evidence and present an informed view. SOC3-15a
  • I can evaluate conflicting sources of evidence to sustain a line of argument. SOC 4-15a
  • Having considered responses to a recent international crisis, I can contribute to a discussion of the effectiveness of the responses. SOC 3-19b
  • By examining the role and actions of selected international organisations, I can evaluate how effective they are in meeting their aims. SOC 4-19b