It was a night to remember at Restaurante Brasas e Vinhos in Almancil on Saturday 15th February. One of the Algarve Rock Choir’s lead singers, Julia Hammond, organised a charity evening to raise funds for the Associação dos Amigos dos Animais Abandonados de Loulé (AAAA), perhaps better known as the San Francisco Kennel. The restaurant provided a buffet and the Algarve Rock Choir provided the entertainment which resulted €5,000 being raised!

Talia the dog, missing in the Algarve since January 4th, has at last been found after a dog hunt of epic scale and dedication. The Podengo cross is owned by German national Cathleen, who works in a publicity agency and also is a psychology student living near Stuttgart.

On a visit to friends for some early January sunshine in Olhão she left her much loved pet with her stepfather at a café by the famous markets and went to do some food shopping at the nearby Pingo Doce.

On January 25th, 2014, the 255th anniversary of Robbie Burns in Scotland, 116 people gathered at The Stables on the grounds of the Estoi Palace Pousada to take a cup of auld lang syne in honour of Scotland's national poet, and to do a little fundraising.

On Saturday, January 18th, the Bombeiros of São Brás welcomed to their fire station members of the Rotary Club Estoi Palace International, representatives of the Angels Theatre Group and members of the public and local dignitaries to witness the handover of the keys to a new ambulance which will make an enormous difference to the people they serve in the São Brás region.

Another year has passed us by and 2013 has been a year with many ups, but equally as many downs. We lost a truly dear friend and supporter in March, Peta Birch. We are honoured to have known her, it is still a devastating loss.

As the year continued we have experienced an enormous increase in the number of abandoned dogs in need of help, there is a never-ending stream of animals in need, and sadly it is not getting any better… we fear the opposite.

It was a show like none ever before it, The "Algarve Rock Choir", The "Rock Choir Group" and the "São Brás Salvation Army Brass Band" came together for the first time, to play a wonderful Christmas Show in the São Brás Theatre.

With a mixture of carols and modern Christmas songs, it was an amazing experience to see and hear these normally separate factions clearly enjoying their night together.

Imagine calling 112 to request an ambulance and being told, “Sorry the ambulance has broken down.”   During the summer of 2012 when a prolonged drought created numerous wildfires in the câmara of São Brás de Ãlportel, this nearly became a reality.

The câmara of São Brás de Ãlportel is served by a volunteer fire/emergency department that works primarily with outdated and second hand equipment.  Many of the residents live in small villages and isolated farms accessible only by very rugged dirt roads, some of which can be washed away completely in a wet winter. 

Swim for Shoes 2013, the annual event to swim or paddle in the Atlantic Ocean has, this year, so far raised just over €1100 for new shoes for children in care.

Many congratulations and thanks to all those who participated.