Barratt Homes, the UK’s largest builder has donated £3,000 to three charities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, helping them with a number of projects in 2020.
A £1,000 donation was made to Libertus Services, Edinburgh North West Food Project and NSPCC Scotland as part of the Barratt Homes Community Fund.
The Barratt Homes Community Fund pledges £1,000 every month to a charity or organisation which supports local people across Edinburgh, The Lothians and Fife. Charities are nominated and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.
The series of donations follows on from a successful year of volunteering by Barratt Homes. Throughout 2019 employees from across the business completed a grand total of 88 days volunteering for different charities in the region including CHAS, Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home and RSPB.
Part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks, The Edinburgh North West Food Project provides emergency food parcels to people living in food poverty. The North-West Edinburgh branch was opened in 2012, based out of its founder’s garage, with only a handful of volunteers, and now has seven foodbanks across Edinburgh with over 190 dedicated volunteers, working with over 230 support agencies.
Ryan Strachan, operations manager, Edinburgh North West Food Project commented: “We can’t thank Barratt enough for their kind donation. Each box we issue costs roughly £5 and we are roughly putting out 1,000 boxes per month.
“The donation will be used towards these boxes and help cover things like stock crates, wheels to move stock around the warehouse, vans plus their upkeep, rent and maintenance of warehouse, as well as electricity and stationery.”
The NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe assemblies help children to recognise different types of abuse and to feel confident about speaking out to a trusted adult.
NSPCC Scotland began delivering the service to primary schools in Scotland in 2012, and since then its staff and team of dedicated volunteers have spoken to tens of thousands of schoolchildren the length and breadth of the country.
Katie Bruce, corporate partnerships manager for NSPCC Scotland said: “We’re really grateful for the donation and without Barratt Homes’ support, and other organisations like them giving back to their community, we wouldn’t be able to deliver programmes like ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ across the East of Scotland.
“Through their donation, Barratt Homes has ensured that NSPCC Scotland will visit another two primary schools in the Lothians, helping children understand about their right to be protected from abuse and neglect and how they should speak to a trusted adult when something worries or upsets them.”
Libertus Services is an Edinburgh-based charity dedicated to supporting people to live independently.
Providing a registered Day Care service to local older people alongside a plethora of recreational, educational, cultural and social projects, the charity is dedicated to empowering its members to make informed choices and to engage with activities which offer a selection of physical activity, reminiscence, games and art as therapy.
Dan Fuller, positive futures project coordinator, Libertus said: “We’re really thankful for Barratt’s donation, which will help support our Positive Futures project. Positive Futures supports people over the age of 50 across Edinburgh to develop and run weekly activity groups in community based settings.
“The donation will specifically help with a number of supplies, from stationery for the craft workshops to equipment for our gym and pilates classes. With this project we aim to reduce social isolation by offering local people opportunities to get involved, meet new people, develop and use their skills.”
Anne Ross, Director for Barratt Scotland East said: “All three charities provide an invaluable service across Scotland for children, those in food poverty and the elderly.
“At Barratt East Scotland we are committed to supporting the communities we serve, and through this fund and our volunteering days, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the services that make a positive impact on so many lives.”
Last year £1.2 million was donated across Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes in the UK.
For more information on Barratt Homes visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/
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