Charity Focus Our Social Responsibility

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CHARITY FOCUS OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

was inspired to get involved The £1,500 raised through tickets with the Akshaya Patra sales for the three talks, as well as I Foundation after attending a other donations provided by family networking evening in September. and friends, means I have raised The words of the Chief Executive at a total of £2,750. This gift will be that event were thought provok- used to feed lunches to a whole ing, as he explained that it was our school of 200 to 300 children in ‘social responsibility’ to help oth- Gujarat, India every day for a year. ers. I felt compelled to become one I have contacted Colgate who will of the first UK student ambassadors provide this school with tooth- for the charity. Akshaya Patra is a brushes and toothpaste. My long- charity that aims to fight hunger term aim is to continue to support and enable children to access edu- this school throughout my life. I cation: tackling two major global wish to connect Heart Your Smile issues. The charity works across and Akshaya Patra by setting up ten states in India in collaboration elective schemes for students to with the Indian Government, and provide healthcare in these schools, is the largest non-profit school which after food and education is meal provider in the world. Just Ajay with speaker Leah Totton the next most important step. £10 can provide a child in India If you would like to get involved with a hot and nourishing school The first evening seminar was on the topic of back as a student, volunteer, supporter lunch every day for an entire year pain and was held in November. We were given invalu- or even speaker for future talks through Akshaya Patra’s ‘Food For able advice from a specialist and a dually qualified then please email me on ajay. Education’ Programme. physiotherapist and osteopath, Robert Shanks. He [email protected]. During the summer, I set up a provided insightful tips on how to prevent and manage For more information about The nationwide student representative back pain. Akshaya Patra Foundation, visit scheme with Heart Your Smile. I The next event I organised took place in January and www.foodforeducation.org.uk elected 14 student representatives was titled ‘The Business of Dentistry’, and comprised of BY AJAY MEHTA across five universities. My aim four speakers: winner of ‘The Apprentice’ and Lord Sugar’s was to elect more representatives business partner – Leah Totton, a dental practice builder - in the London universities, to Simon Tucker, a young entrepreneur from the last series of support my idea of holding talks ‘The Apprentice’ – Jenny Garbis, and a successful practice at King’s College London. I gave owner - Dr Nav Ropra. This event had an impressive audi- my committee the option to sup- ence of 330 attendants, proving to be a success. port my work with Akshaya Patra, The most recent seminar was held in February, discuss- which they kindly accepted. ing the topic of oral hygiene advice for patients. This was I organised and hosted three given by Claire McCarthy, a dental hygienist and tutor talks across the academic year and at King’s, and by a Colgate representative, who kindly charged on a ticket basis for all provided each delegatewith a free electric toothbrush. the lectures, which I also sought All the speakers were extremely generous in giving their sponsorship for. time and support for these lectures. Ajay with speaker Jenny Garbis ORAL HEALTH CHARITY RENAMED TO REFLECT GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Oral health charity the British Dental and will allow them to further Health Foundation has officially strengthen their ultimate mission of changed its name to the Oral Health providing better oral health for all. Foundation. The change came into Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief effect on 4 April 2016 and follows a Executive of the Oral Health growing demand the charity has had Foundation, said: ‘For more than in recent years to deliver greater sup- four decades our biggest strength port, information and education on has been providing education oral health throughout the world. and information on oral health to The charity’s name change millions of people throughout the reflects the significantly broader Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health United Kingdom, so it only makes reach and influence it has estab- Foundation, and Janet Goodwin, current President, unveiling sense for us to expand and try the British Dental Health Foundation’s new name lished globally since its formation, deliver this on a global scale.’

326 BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 220 NO. 7 APR 8 2016