Tag: Amazon Development Centre Scotland

Amazon supports Edinburgh children’s charities

Two Edinburgh children’s charities have received £4,000 in donations from Amazon’s Development Centre in the city. 

Amazon Development Centre Scotland donated £2,000 to Canongate Youth and £2,000 to The Yard. 

The donations were made as part of the ‘Amazon in the Community’ programme, whereby the company supports the communities around its operating locations across the UK. 

Canongate Youth supports children across Edinburgh and the Lothians, offering youth clubs, support services, advice and counselling. Amazon Development Centre Scotland has supported the charity since 2014. 

The Yard is an organisation that creates safe play areas for disabled children and their siblings, giving them the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment. 

The charity plans to use the money to support more disabled children and families with online videos for early years, play ideas and relaxation, and work towards bringing more people back into the playground in line with current guidance. 

Graeme Smith, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, said: “We are pleased to offer these donations to such brilliant charities. We hope the support will help both charities continue their important work with the children of our community.” 

Amazon’s Tich Kent with Anna Robinson (left) partnership manager and Danielle Campbell play team leader. NOTE picture was pre-COVID

Jenny MacDonald, Director of Development at The Yard, added: “We are very grateful for this donation from the Amazon team and for their support of our mission to ensure every child has the right to safe and fun play. We would like to say a big thank you to Amazon for its kind support.” 

Amazon’s Development Centre in Scotland is responsible for innovations used around the world by the company, including machine learning to power Amazon’s smart features like personalised recommendations and intelligent advertising. 

Community donations is one of a number of ways in which Amazon is supporting communities across the UK during COVID-19. 

Amazon is providing disadvantaged students with online STEM courses as well as teaming up with charity partner Magic Breakfast and delivering three quarters of a million healthy breakfasts to families around the UK. 

For more information on how Amazon is supporting the UK during COVID-19, click here.

Amazon team supports Edinburgh Streetwork

Streetwork, a local charity that provides support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, has received more than £500 from the team at the Amazon Development Centre Scotland in Edinburgh. 

For 25 years, the charity has helped to make positive things happen for people in Edinburgh facing extremely difficult circumstances. Streetwork provides expert, compassionate and flexible support and works to link people into the services they need. The charity’s mission is enabling a life off the streets, showing dignity and respect to everyone.

In 2019, Streetwork became part of Simon Community Scotland – delivering a range of services across Glasgow, Edinburgh and across Central Scotland. The charity’s approach is to maintain contact with people in diverse circumstances, so that the charity can help people address the underlying reasons for homelessness and get them the support they need.

Before the lockdown, the team hosted an International Food Day event to raise money for the local charity, where 18 chef volunteers cooked up 24 different dishes, representing 8 different cuisines.

David Freeman, General Manager at Amazon Development Centre Scotland said: “What a wonderful way to celebrate, while also giving back to our community.

“I’m delighted the team can help support Streetwork who do fantastic work for the local community.”

Rankin Barr, Service Leader, Streetwork added: “We are very grateful for this donation from the Amazon team and for their support of our mission to help ensure everyone has a safe place to live.

“Donations like this that help us make a lasting impact for those struggling in our community. We would like to say a huge thank you for supporting Streetwork.”

Amazon Development Centre Scotland is responsible for innovations used around the world by the company, including machine learning to power Amazon’s smart features like personalised recommendations and intelligent advertising.

The charity welcomed the donation as part of the “Amazon in the Community” programme, which supports communities in and around where it operates in the UK.

Amazon support for Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, a vital source of support and advocacy for those who have experienced sexual violence, has received a £750 donation from Amazon Development Centre Scotland in Edinburgh.

The Centre, which was set up in 1978, provides a range of services to support women, all members of the trans community, non-binary people, and young people (aged 12 – 18) who have experienced any kind of sexual violence in their lives. Continue reading Amazon support for Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre