Financial boost for children in the east of Scotland

Disadvantaged young people across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk have received a financial boost with the launch of a new partnership between Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Charles River Laboratories.

The pharma company has presented the charity with a donation of £10,000 and pledged to raise more vital funds in the future. The donation will go directly towards the next grant round of funding, supporting community groups and families – many of whom are facing a financial emergency in the pandemic.

As part of the partnership, colleagues at Charles River Laboratories have signed up to take part in the Virtual Kiltwalk as well as Cash for Kids’ own Virtual Tour de Forth event. They’ll also provide a team of volunteers for the next Mission Christmas campaign in December.

Edinburgh-based Director at Charles River Laboratories, Morag Myers, said: “After such a challenging year for fundraising, we are hopeful that this initial donation of £10,000 will go a long way to help families in our local community and have a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.

“At Charles River, our purpose is clear, and our passion is strong: together, we create healthier lives.  One of our key values is Care and one of the ways that we demonstrate this is by supporting  the communities where we work and live.  By Supporting Cash For Kids we are looking forward to doing just that.”

Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids, Victoria Hendry, added: “2020 was a hugely challenging year for our charity, with events and numerous fundraisers cancelled, but it was thanks to the efforts of our individual and corporate supporters that we were able to re-open grant funding towards the end of the year.

“We’ve already supported more than 7,000 children in 2021, with over £110,000 in financial support so far.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Scottish team at Charles River Laboratories for their generous donation and commitment to go even further for us in the future. The pandemic has proved to us that every single penny we raise can make a difference. Their donation will change lives for the better and help Cash for Kids reach and help even more young people right across the region.”