Tag: Alzheimer Scotland

Pets at Home Group pledges £300,000 to suppport Dementia Dog charity

The Pets at Home Group – which includes Pets at Home, Vets4Pets and The Groom Room – has pledged £300,000 to Edinburgh-based Dementia Dog, an innovative project by Dogs for Good and Alzheimer Scotland that supports families across Scotland living with dementia, both at home and in the community.

The pledge has been made through the Pets at Home Foundation, the charity founded by the Pets at Home Group as part of its mission to create a better world for pets and the people who love them.

The funds will be used to support the charity’s expansion across mainland Scotland, which includes training more full-time assistance dogs, providing animal assisted therapy, delivering training workshops and hosting events.

In celebration of the life-changing work this pledge will support, Pets at Home stores and Vets4Pets practices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Stirling are inviting colleagues and customers to join them this weekend (28th and 29th May) to celebrate.*

Visitors will have the chance to speak to ambassadors from Dogs for Good about their work, enjoy cupcakes (or pupcakes) and more.

Full list of stores with special celebrations:

  • Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, Newcraighall Rd, Edinburgh, Fort Kinnaird EH15 3RD
  • Unit 1, Cumbernauld Retail Park, Westfield Rd, Cumbernauld, Glasgow G68 9NE
  • Strathkelvin Retail Park, 5a, Crosshill Rd, Glasgow G64 2TS
  • SPRINGKERSE RETAIL PARK, Munro Rd, Stirling FK7 7TL
  • 2, Kingsway Retail Park, Longtown Rd, Dundee DD4 8JT

Amy Angus, Group Charity and Community Manager at the Pets at Home Foundation, said: “For families affected by dementia, a dog can provide great comfort and support through a very challenging time.

“We’re incredibly proud to be able to help such a fantastic initiative across Scotland, and we’re inviting our colleagues and customers to join us in our stores and veterinary practices to celebrate this weekend.

“It’s thanks to their great work and generous donations that we’re able to support so many important projects like Dementia Dog.”

Peter Gorbing, CEO of Dogs for Good, added: “For many people, their pets are not only their best friend, but can also be a real lifeline, helping to maintain a routine, retrieve medication and regulate sleeping patterns.

“We’re passionate about bringing people and dogs together and this funding will go a long way in helping us to support more families living with dementia.

“We’d like to send a big thank you to the Pets at Home Group and all the generous people who contributed to this pledge, which will mean so much to families across Scotland.”

The Dementia Dog project is one of hundreds of causes that the Pets at Home Foundation has supported, with more than £5 million donated to more than 750 organisations in the year to March 2022.

Dementia_Family_Dog-finalDownload

To find out more about the Pets at Home Foundation and the charities it supports, visit: https://www.petsathomefoundation.co.uk/

Alzheimer Scotland calls on people of Edinburgh to host a Tea & Blether coffee morning

  • Tea & Blether 2022 launched
  • Alzheimer Scotland fundraising week with strapline: ‘Now you’re talking’
  • Coffee morning-style events set for May 30 – June 5 to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week
  • Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!
  • New all-in-one fundraising platform with packs and resources at blether.alzscot.org goes live
  • Every penny raised stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to ensure nobody faces dementia alone

Alzheimer Scotland are calling on the people of Edinburgh to pop the kettle on and get talking about dementia.

Ahead of Dementia Awareness Week, which kicks off next month, Alzheimer Scotland has launched its Tea & Blether campaign.

Communities across Scotland are encouraged to host a coffee morning-style event in a bid to raise funds and awareness of dementia.

And it’s simple: Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!

Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centres will also run their own events to coincide with those happening across the country.

Whether at work, in school, at home or elsewhere in your community, every brew poured and slice served goes a long way to support people living with dementia.

Alzheimer Scotland promises that every penny raised will stay in Scotland as they strive to “ensure nobody faces dementia alone”.

Kirsty Stewart, Executive Lead for Stakeholder Engagement, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is delighted to launch Tea & Blether as a new national fundraising campaign.

“Some of our local teams across Scotland have been delivering Tea & Blether-style coffee mornings for quite a few years and we know our supporters enjoy taking part in this style of event.

“The successful ingredient is, of course, connection, and we hope that by talking about dementia, we are able to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and bring communities together to support people with dementia and their carers.

“Every penny raised for Alzheimer Scotland stays in Scotland and, as a charity, we are continually amazed and grateful for our supporters’ efforts to, ultimately, help us ensure nobody faces dementia alone.”

To get started, first register online for free at blether.alzscot.org to get your fundraising pack that ensures you’ll host a Tea & Blether worth talking about.

Participants are invited to host their Tea & Blether coffee morning during Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from Monday 30 May to Friday 5 June.

However, if you wish to enjoy your Tea & Blether another time, you are more than welcome to choose another date in June.

Whenever you decide to host your Tea & Blether and wherever it takes place, getting together to chat is great for everyone.

Fundraising is key to the campaign, but it’s important to complement this with awareness-raising as we continue to reduce stigma around dementia and educate ourselves on the positive impact that social interaction has on our wellbeing and brain.

To support this, fundraising packs include conversation flash cards to help raise awareness during people’s Tea & Blethers.

All that’s left to do now is sign up and start planning!

Join in the conversation online by posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram with your favourite mug and mention @AlzScot with the hashtag #MugShot.

Alzheimer Scotland launches winter fundraising appeal

  • Alzheimer Scotland’s winter fundraising appeal launches this week to spread a little bit of magic
  • The campaign called ‘Magic’ asks for donations to help them continue their work
  • Danny McDonald and his wife Catherine from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, have shared their story to highlight the campaign
  • Every penny raised in Scotland stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission that nobody faces dementia alone 

Alzheimer Scotland has launched a winter campaign this week to help them continue their work to make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.
 
The charity provides support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, and campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and fund vital dementia research.
 
Alzheimer Scotland Chief Executive, Henry Simmons, said: “We simply could not provide the level of support we do without such dedicated supporters – thank you to each and every person who make it possible for us to support people with dementia and their families and carers.”
 
Danny McDonald (57) from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire was diagnosed with vascular dementia five years ago when he was 52. He is a member of the Scottish Dementia Working Group, a campaigning group run by people with dementia and funded by Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Danny said: “My diagnosis was quite earth shattering for us. The first thing that came into my mind was how was this going to change our lives?
 
 “My outlook was just to be the best husband and father that I could be regardless of the diagnosis because inside I’d not really changed.”
 
Danny’s wife Catherine added: “We got quite a blunt diagnosis. Danny was told, ‘you’ve got memory problems and you’ve had a stroke so therefore we’re giving you a diagnosis of dementia. We’ll see you again in six weeks‘.”
 
“So we left and sat in the car and we both had a cry and asked ‘what’s just happened? Where do we go from here? “
 
They phoned their local Dementia Resource Centre to get some information and the Dementia Advisor offered to visit them the next day.
 
Danny said: “The Dementia Advisor’s support was excellent, there’s always someone you can talk to. Life would be very difficult for us without Alzheimer Scotland, they’ve had such a positive impact in our life. The Dementia Resource Centre is like my second home.”

Visit magic.alzscot.org to donate or call 0131 243 1453.

£12 supports their Freephone Dementia Helpline for an hour, ensuring there’s always someone on the other end of the phone

£30 enables one their Dementia Advisors to reach out to a family in need of support

£50 welcomes someone into one of their 22 Dementia Resource Centres for the morning

Gillespie Macandrew donates £38,000 to its partner charities

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Alzheimer Scotland are to share a donation of £38,000 from law firm Gillespie Macandrew. 

Partners at the firm commit to donating 1% of the firm’s pre-tax profits each year to its partner charities.  Earlier this year Gillespie Macandrew began a three-year partnership with ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland, after the charities were nominated and voted for by staff.

Gillespie Macandrew’s support for its partner charities is both financial and practical. Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee, staff are encouraged to participate in a broad range of additional fundraising activities, and are also given a day off each year to take part in charitable activities.

Chief Executive Officer Robert Graham-Campbell commented: “We are pleased to be able to share the success of our day-to-day business activities in support of these two important charities, particularly at time when their services are under increased pressure.

As well as our donation, we continue to offer practical support however we can. Members of our CSR committee visited the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People where they saw first-hand the amazing work ECHC does and the real difference it makes to the children, young people, their families, and staff. 

Our private client practitioners know all too well the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on individuals and their families and we are proud to support their important work.  In the coming months staff will help to create dementia gardens in Dundee and Glasgow.”

Olivia Penn, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, commented: ‘’We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Gillespie Macandrew who have already shown incredible commitment to our cause through fundraising and volunteering.

“The vital funds raised through the partnership will go towards transforming the lives of seriously ill babies, children and young people by supporting their medical care, mental health and family’s wellbeing. Together, we will make sure children treated in hospital and healthcare settings across Scotland will always be children first and patients second.’’

Caroline Miller, Lead for Stakeholder Engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the dementia community – the loss of formal and informal supports and the rapid progression of the illness are strongly correlated.

“This donation from Gillespie Macandrew will help us to rebuild our frontline services such as day care, gardening and other therapeutic groups, and will make sure that our Dementia Advisors can continue to be a lifeline to people with dementia and their carers in communities across Scotland. 

“The pandemic has shed light on some complex legal issues for people we support in areas like Powers of Attorney and Guardianships, and we are especially grateful for the support that Gillespie Macandrew has provided in the form of training for our colleagues and information sessions for our carers.”

Gillespie Macandrew has a long and proud history of supporting not for profit organisations and staff are given a paid day off each year to participate in charitable or corporate and social responsibility events.

The firm has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth and advises on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes. 

Herbert Protocol goes nationwide

Police Scotland is encouraging the friends and family of people living with dementia to sign up to the Herbert Protocol.

On Tuesday – International Alzheimer’s Day – Police Scotland adopted a single national process to help officers quickly obtain information about a vulnerable missing person who has dementia, saving vital time in the early stages of an investigation.

The national implementation of the Herbert Protocol has been developed in partnership with Police Scotland, Health and Social Care Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Carers or family members can download the Herbert Protocol form from the Police Scotland website, or request a copy from local Health & Social Care Partnership staff, or other agencies, including Alzheimer Scotland.

The form is completed in advance and generally kept in the person’s home or with relatives. It holds personal details, a description, a recent photograph, languages spoken, as well as previous addresses, places of employment and other significant locations in someone’s life. This can include their old school, a church, or a favourite walking route, plus their medical history and information about past incidents of going missing.

While the Herbert Protocol is in use in a number of Scottish policing divisions, a single form is now available nationwide to optimise the police response to locate the person and return them home, safe and well, as quickly as possible.

The Herbert Protocol form can be used together with Alzheimer Scotland Purple Alert, a free app designed to help finding missing people with dementia. If someone is missing, users will get notified via the app and can help with local searches. 

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie (Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing) said: “When a person goes missing, the first hour is vitally important. Previously, we would have spent a significant amount of time gathering information from family, friends or carers, but being able to give officers a completed Herbert Protocol form saves valuable minutes and hours.

“We hope that families who choose to complete a form will never have to use them. But if they do, having that completed form to hand gives relatives or carers peace of mind that they’re providing the police with detailed, relevant information to enable us to send officers to places where your loved one may be.

“We are completely committed to protecting vulnerable people from harm and having the Herbert Protocol in place Scotland-wide is a significant step towards keeping people safe.

Morag Francis is a carer for her mum, who has a dementia diagnosis. Her family has already completed a Herbert Protocol form.

Morag explained: “We did it as a little project with Mum, because it was about her life, so it turned into a bit of a reminiscence session, so we could pinpoint areas that were still important to her.

“We could guess most of them because she did talk a lot about the past, but we wanted to make sure we’d thought of all the areas she might turn up at because that’s where she remembered.

“To me it’s my insurance document, because I appreciate if we couldn’t find her the levels of stress would be incredible and we wouldn’t really be able to think straight.

“Everyone in the family who’s on the form as a contact has the Herbert Protocol saved in their emails, so if something did happen we would have very quick and easy access to it on our phones and we could email it to whoever needed it.

“Having that ready to go is very reassuring to me as her daughter. It’s really important to have it there, just in case.”

Alzheimer Scotland Deputy Director Joyce Gray said: “Alzheimer Scotland is fully committed to our partnership with Police Scotland, and delighted to endorse any opportunities to support families to use the Herbert Protocol. 

“The Herbert Protocol and Purple Alert will help us to make people living with dementia safer in Scotland.  We are proud of the partnership and in these world leading initiatives which help support our communities.”

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, said: “Having a loved one with dementia go missing is a very stressful time for families, friends and carers and the priority is to find the person safe and well and as quickly as possible.

“The Herbert Protocol is a straight-forward way for families and carers to provide all the necessary information easily and efficiently in one form which will save vital time in missing person enquiries.

“I welcome the national roll-out of this partnership which is being taken forward by Police Scotland, Health and Social Care Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland, Scottish Care and the Scottish Government.”

Judith Proctor, chair of the Chief Officers’ Group, Health and Social Care Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be a key partner supporting the national roll out of the Herbert Protocol.

“Care professionals across health and social care partnerships in Scotland will be encouraging and supporting family and friends of people at risk of going missing to complete and hold onto this simple form. It’s another proactive way we can all work together in our communities, helping to keep people safe.”

L to R: ACC Gary Ritchie, Ch Supt Linda Jones, Tommy Petillo (Alzheimer Scotland), Supt Norrie Conway, Karen Thom (Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership)

Edinburgh woman is doing Alzheimer Scotland Memory Walk this weekend for her mum

  • Alzheimer Scotland fundraising weekend
  • Scotland’s Memory Walk 2021
  • Takes place this weekend 18-19 September
  • New all-in-one fundraising platform at memorywalk.alzscot.org 
  • Participants can choose to walk where they like to celebrate someone they love
  • Connect with other supporters in an online group full of amazing people with a shared mission 
  • Every penny raised in Scotland stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to ensure that nobody faces dementia alone.  

An Edinburgh woman who is taking part in Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk this weekend (18-19 September) is urging others to sign up and take part.

Samantha Anderson (49) from Edinburgh, plans to walk 13 miles on Saturday, September 18 in memory of her mum Pauline who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2018 and passed away last year, aged 73. 

Her parents were childhood sweethearts, they met when they were only six and nine and got married aged 16 and 18, so Samantha plans to walk 13 miles from Newcraighall Road to Broomhouse where they first met.

Samantha said: “It was subtle changes at first with mum and then the illness took hold of her all of a sudden.

“We had services and treatment lined up but the pandemic hit and a lot was put on hold and sadly her condition deteriorated quickly.

“I’m doing the Memory Walk because I want to give a little bit back to Alzheimer Scotland.

“The information and advice we got from them during mum’s illness was invaluable. They gave us lots of ideas for things we could do to help her such as listening to songs she liked, looking through photo albums and just making her laugh.

“I’d definitely encourage others to take part, it’s a great day out and a wonderful way to remember a loved one while raising money for a really good cause.”

Scotland’s Memory Walk takes place 18-19 September and a new fundraising platform has been launched to ensure that people taking part can feel connected and share their experience as one big community.

The idea behind Scotland’s Memory Walk is simple. People can choose where they want to walk, and with whom. 

That means participants can choose somewhere that has a special meaning for them at a time that suits them over the weekend.

And with so many great places to choose from nearby such as Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat you can create special memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime. 

The distance doesn’t matter, whether it’s 1km, 5km or 500km. It might even be a lap of the garden. 

Best of all, it’s free of charge for everyone who takes part, although everyone is encouraged to raise as much as they can.

Participants will have the option to create a team with friends, family or colleagues and fundraise via their own personalised Memory Walk page. 

Everyone who supports the campaign will also be able to earn rewards and badges, there are also prizes and medals up for grabs this year.

Every penny raised as a result of Scotland’s Memory Walk will go directly towards the support Alzheimer Scotland offers across Scotland, including their 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000). 

Dementia Advisor for Edinburgh, Elizabeth Campbell, said: “My role is fully funded through fundraised money and Scotland’s Memory Walk is one of the biggest fundraising events we have. 

“But it’s not just about the fundraising. Scotland’s Memory Walk brings communities together, children, adults and older adults. 

“Many participants have something in common; they are walking for someone they care about, a person living with dementia, a carer or in memory of a loved one. 

“We hope Scotland’s Memory Walk gives people the chance to honour their loved ones and feel connected to the dementia community across the country.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, or your ability, you can take part and help us to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.”

To sign up to Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit: memorywalk.alzscot.org

Edinburgh residents urged to take part in Scotland’s Memory Walk

  • Scotland’s Memory Walk 2021 launched 
  • Alzheimer Scotland fundraising weekend 
  • Set for 18-19 September
  • New fundraising platform at memorywalk.alzscot.org goes live  
  • Participants can choose to walk where they like across the country, celebrating those they love 
  • Connect with other supporters in an online group full of amazing people with a shared mission 
  • Every penny raised in Scotland stays in Scotland to fulfill Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to ensure that nobody faces dementia alone  

Edinburgh residents are being asked to sign up to Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk this year to raise funds and vital awareness of dementia in Scotland. 

Scotland’s Memory Walk takes place on 18 & 19 September and a new fundraising platform has been launched to ensure that people taking part can feel connected and share their experience as one big community.

The idea behind Scotland’s Memory Walk is simple. People can choose where they want to walk, and with whom. 

That means participants can choose somewhere that has a special meaning for them at a time that suits them over the weekend.

And with so many great places to choose from nearby such as Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat you can create special memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime. 

The distance doesn’t matter, whether it’s 1km, 5km or 500km. It might even be a lap of the  garden. 

Best of all, it’s free of charge for everyone who takes part, although everyone is encouraged to raise as much as they can.

Participants will have the option to create a team with friends, family or colleagues and fundraise via their own personalised Memory Walk page. 

Everyone who supports the campaign will also be able to earn rewards and badges, there are also prizes and medals up for grabs this year.

Every penny raised as a result of Scotland’s Memory Walk will go directly towards the support Alzheimer Scotland offers across Scotland, including their 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000). 

Margaret Northedge (62) from Drumnadrochit near Loch Ness, who lives with dementia, said: “I didn’t want to get involved with Alzheimer Scotland’s groups at the start, but once I was there they made me so welcome and I looked forward to going again.

“When I was diagnosed, I was actually lost, it was a very sad time for me, so being able to receive support from the Dementia Centre and other people was a lifeline, because I was going down a slippery slope of depression.”

Dementia Advisor for Edinburgh, Elizabeth Campbell, said: “My role is fully funded through fundraised money and Scotland’s Memory Walk is one of the biggest fundraising events we have. 

“But it’s not just about the fundraising. Scotland’s Memory Walk brings communities together, children, adults and older adults. 

“Many participants have something in common; they are walking for someone they care about, a person living with dementia, a carer or in memory of a loved one. 

“We hope Scotland’s Memory Walk gives people the chance to honour their loved ones and feel connected to the dementia community across the country.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, or your ability, you can take part and help us to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.”

To sign up to Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit: memorywalk.alzscot.org

Alzheimer Scotland receives Nationwide Building Society support for virtual Dementia Resource Centre

Alzheimer Scotland has received over £8000 from Nationwide Building Society to help fund the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre to support families living with dementia across Scotland.

This is part of a wider grants programme at Nationwide – any Nationwide employee can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 on behalf of a local charity. Twenty four charities across the UK have received a share of just over £200,000 in the recent round of grants, with Alzheimer Scotland being one of the successful charities.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s leading dementia charity. They support and enable people living with dementia to live well with the disease, keeping them connected to their community. They provide a network of specialist Dementia Advisors, NHS Dementia Nurses, Dementia Research Centres, a Freephone 24-hour Dementia Helpline and numerous local support services in communities across Scotland.

Alzheimer Scotland is building the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre (VRC) to help keep people connected and to ensure that no one faces dementia alone.

This, innovative digital project will offer a warm and welcoming online space for people to meet, share experiences and access information, support and expertise. It will make the charity’s invaluable services permanently accessible, 24 hours a day, to people living with dementia, their carers and families across Scotland.

Specifically, Nationwide’s investment will fund the development of the financial advice zone within the VRC, which will be a hub of information to give advice, guidance and recommendations around practical money matters for those on a journey with dementia.

William Campbell, Nationwide Building Society Branch Manager in Oban, comments: “I work really closely with Alzheimer Scotland by arranging for all of the Nationwide Branches in Scotland to become Dementia Friendly through receiving virtual training sessions delivered by Alzheimer Scotland.

“When the opportunity to apply for a grant for the charity came up, I jumped at the chance. With many charities struggling for funding in these times, it was a proud day working for Nationwide hearing Alzheimer Scotland had been chosen to receive a grant for their project.”

Claire Du Preez from Alzheimer Scotland said: “We are enormously grateful to Nationwide for this generous donation. The impact of COVID-19 on our dementia community has been devastating and the people we support have never needed us more.

“Our new Virtual Resource Centre will help expand our reach, making our support accessible to all. The financial advice area, funded by Nationwide, will be a crucially important resource, guiding families through the practical implications of financial management post-diagnosis, and offering key advice and recommendations to better prepare for the future.

“On behalf of the charity, I would like to thank Nationwide for this welcome support. It will make such a big difference.”

Law firm Gillespie Macandrew announces charity partnerships

Gillespie Macandrew announces new charity partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity

Leading Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew has begun a three year charity partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).  Alzheimer Scotland provides support for those living with dementia and the ECHC supports children and their families in a variety of healthcare settings.

The new partnerships are a key part of the Firm’s overall Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which includes donating 1% of pre-tax profits each year to the nominated charities.  The firm has an established and active CSR committee which includes representatives from all four of Gillespie Macandrew’s offices.   

As well as financial support, staff are given a day off each year to take part in charitable activities and as a result of this commitment to the nominated charities, the Firm has donated a total of over £130,000 in the past five years.

Chief Executive Officer Robert Graham Campbell commented: “We have a long and proud history of supporting charitable causes, whether it is engagement though volunteering, providing funding and pro-bono legal advice or partnering to host training opportunities. 

“We look forward to working with our two new charity partners to support the excellent and valuable work they do.”

Stakeholder Engagement Lead from Alzheimer Scotland, Caroline Miller said: “The incredible commitment from Gillespie Macandrew will help us provide a range of person-centred support for people living with dementia and their families, who have been devastated by the pandemic.

Money raised will also go towards our exciting project to build the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre so we can offer support no matter where you are and what time of the day it is.”

ECHC’s Fundraiser Amy Ford added: “Gillespie Macandrew’s support over the next three years means that we can continue transforming the experiences of every child and young person in hospital and healthcare throughout the duration of the pandemic and beyond.

When the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People opens on Tuesday 23 March, ECHC will be there to support children, young people and families in many ways and we simply could not do this without the generosity and kindness of our charity partners like Gillespie Macandrew.”

Alzheimer Scotland and ECHC were nominated and voted for by staff and Gillespie Macandrew is pleased to be able to offer our support, particularly at a time of increased pressure on the services they provide. 

The firm has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth and advises on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes. 

Amazing Aegon UK staff raise more than £140,000 for charity

  • ​Total includes more than £86,000 for two Scottish charities – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Alzheimer Scotland – and £38,665.51 for the national charity partner Macmillan
  • Aegon will support Blood Bikes Scotland and Marie Curie Edinburgh as local charity partners and Prince’s Trust as national charity partner in 2021

The pandemic didn’t stall fundraising in 2020, as Aegon UK employees working with their Atos colleagues raised a total of £142,368.06 for nine employee selected charity partners UK wide. (Who donated the 6p? – Ed.)

The company charity committees and employees coordinated everything from raffles, quizzes and dress up days, to running challenges, virtual coffee mornings and pet competitions to raise funds throughout the year. Aegon UK then matched these funds pound for pound, bringing the grand charitable total to £142,368.06 for the nine charity partners.

25% of all funds raised went to the national charity, Macmillan and 75% of money raised in each location went to the local charity or charities. The local charities selected by the employees in Edinburgh were Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Alzheimer Scotland .

Due to the lockdown, cheque presentations took place virtually this year for most of the charities, with just a couple of the cheques being delivered in person by Aegon employees.

A breakdown of the funds raised for each of the nine charities can be found below.

Mike Holliday-Williams, CEO, Aegon UK commented: “The pandemic presented our charity committees and employees with a fresh fundraising challenge this year. The usual bake sales and dress down days were no longer possible when the offices closed. But Aegon employees rose to this challenge and came up with a steady stream of wonderful ideas to ensure our charities were well taken care of, lifting everyone’s spirits in the process.

“Pet competitions, ready steady cook at home challenges, the 555 running challenge quizzes, dress up days, virtual coffee mornings, raffles and so much more – I was in awe at the persistence and creativity from everyone involved.

“Employees have gone above and beyond in 2020 to support the company’s commitment to giving back to our local communities – from nominating the charities close to their hearts, through to the passion and dedication shown in raising these funds for fantastic causes. I’m extremely impressed with the dedication and efforts of those involved, especially during a global pandemic.

“I would also like to thank the charity committees across all the locations for their hard work in keeping up the momentum and delivering for our charity partners. Helping people is at the core of what Aegon does as a business, and the fundraising work we do as a company is a key part of that.”

Michelle Campbell, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan said: “This is an acutely challenging time for people living with cancer, the NHS and for cancer care. We are doing whatever it takes to make sure our vital support continues to be available.

“Funding is needed more than ever, so for Aegon to exceed their original target and donate £38,665.51 is more than we could have imagined. This type of donation pays for a Macmillan support worker for over a year, helping people living with cancer receive the help they need.

“We would like to thank Aegon for their continued support throughout the year and for the outstanding amount raised.”

Rami Okasha, CEO at CHAS said: “Staff at Aegon have done amazing work to help children with life-shortening conditions across Scotland. We at CHAS just can’t thank the team enough.

“The money raised will fund the cost of specialist hospice care for children with short lives, and emotional and practical support for their parents, brothers and sisters. No-one should face the death of their child alone and this partnership takes us one step closer to making that a reality.”

Caroline Miller, Stakeholder Engagement Lead at Alzheimer Scotland said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for people living with dementia and their carers. There is an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland – approximately 60,000 of whom live in the community.

“Each of these people, to different degrees, rely on their daily routines, social interactions, community-based groups and activities, and formal health and social care services, as a way to maintain their wellbeing and live as independently as possible in their own communities.

“All these supports have been disrupted as a direct consequence of this pandemic and the public health restrictions. We’ve seen from the dramatic increase in calls to our helpline, the toll this has taken.

“The generosity of Aegon and their staff during our partnership has been humbling. Despite the restrictions in place, they have continued their fundraising at pace and also responded with a generous gift to our crisis appeal.

“The total of just over £43,000 raised is an incredible achievement in any year but we are so grateful that in this most difficult of years they have made such a contribution. This money will have a real impact on people living with dementia in Scotland as we continue to transform the ways in which we support people living with dementia, their families and carers as we move forward.”

The charities were chosen as the result of a company-wide vote on a shortlist of charities nominated by Aegon UK employees.

In 2021 Aegon UK employees and Atos colleagues will be supporting:

  • National charity – Prince’s Trust
  • Edinburgh local charities – Blood Bikes Scotland and Marie Curie Edinburgh
  • London local charity – London’s Air Ambulance
  • Manchester local charities – Forever Manchester and Dianne Oxberry Trust
  • Peterborough local charity – East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH)
  • Witham local charities – Kids Inspire and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance
  • Lytham local charity – Trinity Hospice & Brian’s House

Breakdown of funds raised for all Aegon UK charity partners in 2020. 

Aegon locationCharityFunds raised
National charityMacmillan£38,665.51
Edinburgh – local charityAlzheimer Scotland£43,023.08
Edinburgh – local charityCHAS£43,023.08
Witham – local charityFarleigh Hospice£3,718.42
Witham – local charityEssex and Herts Air Ambulance£3,718.42
London – local charityLondon’s Air Ambulance£3,675.68
Peterborough – local charityEast Anglia Children’s Hospice£4,784.69
Manchester – local charityDianne Oxberry Trust£879.59
Manchester – local charityForever Manchester£879.59
TOTAL£142,368.06