Tag: charity donations

Persimmon gives a helping hand to two community groups

Two richly-deserving community-based causes in the west of Scotland are among the latest recipients from the pioneering Community Champions programme, run by leading housebuilder Persimmon Homes. Each has been awarded £1,000 by the company’s Glasgow-based West Scotland division.

Amputee Football Association Scotland was set up in 2017 to provide opportunities for amputees in Scotland to play football. Based in Glasgow but catering for players from all across Scotland, it aims to give players with congenital limb differences the chance to play at grassroots, club and international level.

Spokesperson Ashley Reid said: “We are now resuming competitive games in the post-pandemic environment. Our national team now has overseas commitments and to fulfil these we desperately need help towards travel costs and to acquire new reinforced crutches for all amputee players.

“In addition, we are busy developing training sessions and events for young people, so they can pursue their passion in a fun and friendly environment. We work hard to raise funds to support these developments but have a shortfall. That’s why we turned to Persimmon for some help.”

Around 12 miles away, Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) is the name of an emergency foodbank and community hub based on Station Road, Old Kilpatrick. 

Set up in the wake of the pandemic, the group relies on the support of a dedicated band of volunteers, who are trained on life skills such as cooking, housekeeping, budgeting and counselling.

Founder Maureen Cummings explains: “Our training enables the volunteers to help vulnerable families in our community who are experiencing social exclusion as a result of being isolated for long periods of time. This has been a particular issue during the pandemic.

“Many of the individuals and families we work with have lost their confidence in social settings. That’s why we are so committed to helping rebuild their self-esteem and wellbeing, by teaching them new skills and offering training opportunities.”

On behalf of Persimmon, West Scotland managing director Chris Logan said: “Our region has been hit hard in recent years, through the pandemic and, more recently, the cost-of-living crisis.

“This creates very real difficulties for all but especially for those facing challenges, be it physical impairment or less visible issues, such as social exclusion.

“Our Community Champions programme is designed to offer much-needed support for those groups and the selfless people who work hard to create opportunities and help their communities thrive. That’s why we are so pleased to announce this funding for OKFP and the Amputee FA Scotland. We wish them all every success in the future.”

To find out more about the Community Champions scheme, including details of how to apply, visit: 

https://www.persimmonhomes.com/community-champions

The company has a number of upcoming and recently-completed residential developments in the region. For details, go to: 

https://www.persimmonhomes.com/find-your-new-home

Founded in 1972, Persimmon Homes is one of the UK’s leading housebuilders. With headquarters in York, the Group operates from 31 regional offices throughout the UK, trading under the brand names of Persimmon Homes, Charles Church and Westbury Partnerships, building quality homes across England, Wales and Scotland. 

The company is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer and directly employs more than 5,000 people and supports around 86,000 jobs in the construction sector. 

For more information visit www.persimmonhomes.com

Four Edinburgh charities welcome donations from Amazon

Four charities based in Edinburgh have received donations totalling £14,000 from Amazon Development Centre Scotland. 

Edinburgh Refugee Sponsorship Circle and Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) received £5,000 each, and The Yard and Four Square Scotland each received £2,000.

The charities received the donations following nominations for support from employees at Amazon Development Centre Scotland in Edinburgh and the company’s Head Office in London. 

Formed in 2020 with the goal of making Edinburgh a safe place for refugees and asylum seekers to live, Edinburgh Refugee Sponsorship Circle organises safe pathways for families fleeing conflict zones and helps them secure a new life in Edinburgh.  

Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council works to combat inequality and discrimination. The charity promotes equality of opportunity and good relations between people in Edinburgh and across the region. 

Four Square Scotland supports people impacted by homelessness in Edinburgh. The charity provides accommodation, advice, support and learning and employability training for homeless and vulnerable people. 

The Yard has been involved with the Edinburgh community for more than 35 years, supporting disabled children and young people, and their families, through adventure play.

Speaking on the donations, Oliver Masting, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, said: “Edinburgh has been a happy home to Amazon for many years and we’re proud to be a part of the community in the city.

“We’re passionate about supporting great organisations in our community with donations and it’s great to lend a helping hand to these four important charities.”  

Jane Devine, Chief Executive from Four Square Scotland added: “It’s fantastic to get this support from Amazon Development Centre Scotland.

“On behalf of all the staff and volunteers at Four Square Scotland, I’d like to say a big thank you to the Amazon teams in Edinburgh and London for their kind support.” 

Angus Robertson MSP added: “Each of these charities provide huge support and excellent services to so many in Edinburgh and beyond. They are thoroughly deserving of these donations and I thank Amazon Development Centre employees for their nominations.” 

The charities received the donations as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK. 

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

Throughout the pandemic Amazon has provided disadvantaged students with online STEM courses and supported virtual classrooms with no-cost resources from AWS and Amazon Future Engineer.

The company has also teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than five million healthy breakfasts to disadvantaged families around the UK.

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

Aldi donates 5,089 meals to Edinburgh and Lothian charities over the Easter school holidays

Aldi helped local charities in Edinburgh and the Lothians provide 5,089 meals to people in need over the Easter school holidays. 

The supermarket paired its stores up with local charities, community groups and food banks to donate surplus food, making the most of unsold fresh and chilled food throughout the Easter period. 

Around 105 tonnes of food were donated throughout the UK, with more than 187,000 meals going to causes focused on supporting families and children.  

The donations followed research from Aldi and community-giving platform Neighbourly which found that 98% of food banks in Scotland have seen demand soar since the start of the year. 

Neighbourly recently polled more than 700 food banks and community causes nationwide and found that an estimated 30% of people using these services in Scotland in recent months have been new to the food banks. 

On average, food banks in the region reported an average rise in demand of around 28% for their services so far this year, with expectations of further increases of around 29% in the next three months as higher energy bills and an increase in national insurance contributions add to the pressure.  

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “The school holidays can be a busy time for the local charities and organisations we support, but, especially in the current climate, food banks are experiencing even greater demand than usual.  

“We’re proud to support so many good causes in Edinburgh and the Lothians, helping them to provide meals to those in need over the recent school holidays.” 

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “The findings of our latest survey highlight that the cost-of-living crisis is clearly deepening, with families and households up and down the country really starting to feel the pinch and turning to charities and local causes for support as a result.  

“During what is a hard time for everyone, anything people can do to give back in the coming weeks will make all the difference.” 

Aldi has community donation points in stores nationwide to help those in need, and is encouraging customers to help in any way they can.

According to its poll with Neighbourly, products that are most in demand at local community groups include tinned food, tea and coffee, UHT milk, toiletries, and household cleaning products. 

Edinburgh charities benefit from £204,000 national boost from Barratt Developments

The housebuilder donated to good causes which help children, people with life-limiting health conditions, and the elderly, as well as charities which offer mental health and employment support 

Barratt Developments – which includes Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Oregon Timber Frame Ltd – is celebrating a year of giving after its charitable efforts topped more than £204,000 in donations across Scotland.

Each year, the five-star housebuilder supports a wide range of organisations promoting equality, employability and care among many other causes, through various charity initiatives, including the Barratt Developments Scotland Community Fund, which donates £1,000 to a deserving local cause in each of its Scottish divisions every month.

Since January, Barratt Developments has handed out funding to organisations which provide care, support, and respite for those battling serious illness, disease, or lifelong health conditions, such as Maggie’s Edinburgh, Fight Against Cancer Edinburgh, The British Lung Foundation and Marie Curie.

Barratt’s donations have gone towards the provision of palliative care, providing support for people with health conditions and disabilities, and caring for those battling cancer. 

Additionally, Barratt donated to children’s charities, such as CHAS and LGBT Youth Scotland, helping to fund vital services for vulnerable kids and families in need of assistance.

Organisations which support people into employment, such as WorkingRite in Edinburgh, benefitted from a funding boost from Barratt Developments this year, helping to transform the lives of people by giving them the tools they need to find and secure work.

Further donations went to hospices caring for the elderly, including St. Columba’s and St. Andrew’s Hospice, and Barratt also donated to mental health charities such as SAMH, whose lifeline services are of vital importance, particularly during the pandemic.

Douglas McLeod, Barratt Developments’ Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said: “As the country’s leading housebuilder, we are committed to creating a positive legacy and making a genuine contribution towards the communities in which we build our homes.

“We are extremely proud of this year’s achievement, as it’s become even more apparent how incredibly important it is to support those around us during these difficult times. Each of the charities we have supported carry out fantastic work and are a lifeline service for many people, and we are delighted to have been able to support organisations which are close to our hearts.

“We are looking forward to working with many more charities and raising even more funds as we go into 2022 and beyond. We would like to thank everyone who suggested the charities and supported our fundraising activity and wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and prosperous New Year.”

The full list of 2021’s beneficiaries is:

includes:

•                  FACE

•                  Goodtrees

•                  Empty Kitchens

•                  St Fillan’s Playgroup

•                  Support in Mind Scotland

•                  Fife Women’s Aid

•                  British Lung Foundation

•                  With Kids

•                  Marie Curie

•                  Maggies Edinburgh

•                  Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

•                  Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity

•                  The Prince’s Trust

•                  LifeCare Edinburgh

•                  St Columba’s Hospice Care

•                  WorkingRite

•                  Kindred

•                  VSA “Changing Lives Campaign”

•                  Bucksburn Community Council

•                  Street Sport (Denis Law Trust)

•                  Bettridge Centre (Newtonhill Community centre)

•                  Befriend a Child

•                  SurfAble

•                  Huntingtons Association

•                  Archie Foundation

•                  SCAA

•                  Aberdeen Foyer

•                  Beannachar

•                  New Start Highland

•                  The Haven Appeal

•                  Mental Health Aberdeen

•                  Lifesavers Scotland

•                  St Andrews Hospice

•                  Kilbryde Hospice

•                  The Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments

•                  Move on with Fareshare

•                  CHAS

•                  Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity

•                  East Park School

•                  The Beatson Cancer Centre

•                  LGBT Youth Scotland

•                  The Dual Fitness Foundation

•                  Action for Children

•                  SAMH

•                  SCFC with Motor Impairment

•                  Move on Scotland

•                  Craig Halbert Centre

•                  SiMBA

Conifox customers dig deep to bring Christmas joy to children

Last chance to donate toys

Generous visitors to Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park are digging deep to bring the joy of Christmas to youngsters in need of a little extra festive cheer. 

Customers enjoying the Park’s Christmas Experience and other attractions have been giving Santa a helping hand by donating new toys for local children. There is still time to gift presents to make Christmas morning special for youngsters who might otherwise miss out. 

The initiative is part of Conifox’s mission to develop a reciprocal relationship with the community and is led by Deborah Gammell, working in partnership with the KidsLoveClothes Team.

Deborah said: “Children are at the heart of our business. We are a family-owned company, and with young children ourselves, we recognise that the well-being of local children is shared priority. Our collaboration with KidsLoveClothes for their Christmas Toy Appeal is a perfect way for us make a contribution. 

“Christmas is a time where some families will need a little extra support, especially within the more recent pressures of the pandemic. KidsLoveClothes is a fantastic charity with an established network which ensures donations go to those most in need.

“We have received lots of wonderful new toys within the Conifox Activity Centre already and hope our campaign gathers momentum in the final days to Christmas. Every gift received is guaranteed to go to a local child in need.  

“As a mum, I know how much this will mean to the parents too. If you are planning to visit, please consider donating a new toy to our appeal, it will be very gratefully received.” 

This year the Lothians-based charity KidsLoveCLothes, which provides items of clothing for youngsters in need all year round, has already provided gifts from Conifox, for almost 400 children, aged 0-12, but more are needed. 

Founder Fiona Shapcott says: “The demand for Christmas gift bags is high but sadly we know there are children we are unable to reach which is heart-breaking. Local businesses and individuals have been incredibly generous but we would love to do more and are hoping visitors to Conifox will make Christmas dreams come true for many more youngsters this year.” 

Conifox Adventure Park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is currently running its Christmas Experience with a host of festive attractions. It is open until December 23 and will be delighted to accept toy donations until then. 

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark or www.conifox.co.uk.  

To find out more about KidsLoveClothes visit: https://www.kidsloveclothes.co.uk 

Aldi donates over 22,000 meals to Edinburgh and Lothian charities over the school summer holidays

ALDI – GLASCOTE TAMWORTH FOOD DONATION – TAMWORTH HEART CHARITY Pictures by Adam Fradgley Pictured: Lisa Richards (Aldi) and Simon Peaple (Tamworth Heart) with the trolley of donated items at the Tamworth store

Local charities across Edinburgh and the Lothians helped Aldi donate 22,752 meals to people in need over the summer school holidays.

The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and foodbanks to donate surplus food, with the majority of meals going to causes supporting families and children.

The donation is part of Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, in partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.

Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “We were proud to support so many incredible causes across Edinburgh and the Lothians this summer, helping them to donate meals to those in need.

“The school holidays can be a hard time for families, particularly when many are experiencing heightened financial hardship due to the pandemic, and this is why we committed to donating more meals than ever before.”

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “The summer school holidays are always one of the busiest times for the nation’s charities and food banks, but this year things were even busier. Aldi’s donations have never been more of a vital support to these organisations.”

Aldi stores across the country work with Neighbourly to partner with local charities, who can collect surplus food and perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to seven days a week.

Fort Kinnaird gives back to the community with charity donations

Fort Kinnaird has donated £5,000 to help some of the charities and organisations most impacted by the pandemic across the capital’s Niddrie and Craigmillar areas.

The local grassroots charities have each received £1,000 from a dedicated fund set up by Fort Kinnaird owners British Land and were selected due to the key role they play in supporting the local community.

Venchie Children & Young People’s Project, Thistle Foundation, Craigmillar Now, Richmond’s Hope and Caring in Craigmillar are among the charities to receive support from Fort Kinnaird.

Venchie Children & Young People’s Project provides play, recreation, and issue-based youth work to school children from across Niddrie, with access to activities including drama club, residentials, and breakfast and after school clubs.

Thistle Foundation is a charity supporting those with long-term health conditions and disabilities, enabling them to live independently in their own homes, while Craigmillar Now brings the local community together through art with a host of different exhibitions throughout the year.

Richmond’s Hope provides support for children and young people dealing with bereavement by offering a safe space for children to work through their grief, helping them to preserve memories of their loved one, explore their feelings, and provide them with coping strategies for handling their loss.

Caring in Craigmillar is a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable older people with complex care needs, preventing them from becoming isolated and encouraging community integration.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “The past 12 months have been an incredibly challenging time for local charities who have seen funding disrupted by the pandemic. Our commitment to our community has never been more important, and I’m so pleased we can support some of those organisations that need it most.

“The chosen charities do such amazing work across our immediate local communities of Niddrie and Craigmillar and we hope our donation goes some way in helping them to continue to do so.”

This initiative is part of Fort Kinnaird’s wider programme of work in the community which included the launch of its Giving Box installation, designed to encourage visitors to make small donations while at the centre to help support local organisations.

Cash boost for Glasgow Therapy Centre for Cerebral Palsy

A Glasgow charity which gives support to people living with cerebral palsy is to benefit from a cash boost gifted by a regional builder.

Cerebral Palsy Scotland has received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes West Scotland to continue to provide virtual, face-to-face and phone-based therapy sessions for people with cerebral palsy across Scotland.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological condition caused by an injury to a child’s brain at or around the time of birth. CP affects a person’s ability to control their movement, posture and balance and one in three people with the condition are unable to walk. Other areas of function can also be affected. One in four are unable to talk and 50% have learning disabilities.  Many live with ongoing pain and epilepsy

The donation comes as part of the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme, which will see a pot of £24,000 given out to local good causes throughout the region over the next 12 months.

Groups will be chosen every month to receive a match-funding donation with local community groups being encouraged to apply by completing an online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.



Susan Sheridan at Cerebral Palsy Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Persimmon Homes West Scotland have chosen to support us.  60% of the people we support have told us that COVID-19 restrictions have negatively impacted on their mental health and we are working hard to reach out to them however we can.

“The £1,000 donation will fund our CP Connect service phone calls for five months providing free therapy and support for children and their families living with cerebral palsy.”

Chris Logan, managing director for Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said the community initiative was a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company works.

He said: “Cerebral Palsy Scotland make a huge difference to children and their families living with cerebral palsy and have found a way to support them despite the ongoing restrictions.  Their tenacity in raising funds and quality of their application gave them the edge when it came to choosing the good causes to support but it is always a difficult choice.

“We now want to hear from more groups and charities as we look to allocate more funding over the next month.  All we ask is that the group or charity has already worked hard to raise money themselves, and we will then match this effort with funding of up to £1,000.”

To find out more about Persimmon Homes development in Glasgow including The Boulevard, located just south of the city centre, Greenlees and Castle Gardens in Cambuslang, Sycamore Park in Darnley, or to apply for funding, visit:

www.persimmonhomes.com

Freemasons rise to Covid-19 challenge

Donations total £1m and 18 million hours of volunteering

Faced with the greatest global pandemic in living memory, Freemasons came together in 2020 and donated a total of £1m as well as their time to help those in need.

The donations were used to help communities in various critical areas, including foodbanks, support for unpaid carers, personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies for hospitals and hospices, support for women’s refuges, and funds for NHS workers, ambulances and equipment.

Freemasons also worked 18 million hours as volunteers in a range of different areas, where there was a need, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk, organising care packages, producing scrubs, PPE and hand sanitiser.

At the start of the crisis in April 2020, some Freemasons adapted their businesses’ production lines to produce nearly 5,000 visors for use in healthcare settings. Since then, Freemasons have produced or procured tens of thousands of pieces of additional PPE.

Meanwhile, to help protect women and children from domestic abuse, Freemasons donated more than £165,000 in 2020. The donation helped more than 2,000 women during the lockdown, who received more than 1,000 parcels containing essential items for women fleeing domestic abuse.

Freemasons also focused their efforts on hospitals and care homes, donating nearly 1,000 tablets to provide vital contact between coronavirus patients and their loved ones. The tablets were provided to more than 50 hospitals, care homes and hospices. In London, hospitals including The Royal London, Queen Mary’s and St Thomas’ received approximately 115 tablets; while in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, some 200 tablets were donated.

Elsewhere, to support thousands of families struggling during the crisis, Freemasons donated 300,000 meals and 38 tonnes of food to homeless people, women’s refuges and vulnerable people, supporting more than 120,000 people in total. Moreover, £560,000 was donated to provide meals and help numerous foodbanks.

Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said: “No one in this day and age should have to worry where their next meal is coming from.

“We are so glad that we were able to provide thousands of families across the UK with a hot meal or food donations to help get them through this current crisis. Freemasons have achieved all of this in just a few months and have also given their time to produce and deliver food to the vulnerable.”

The UGLE is also encouraging its members to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help vaccinate the population. “More than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons. Now it is crucial that we help in every way we can to protect the population. If the NHS needs volunteers, then we are happy to emphasise the importance of this to our members,” said Dr Staples.

He continued: “Our response to the Pandemic shows what Freemasonry is all about; supporting those in need, giving back to our communities and volunteering where it can make a real difference. 

“Freemasons have been doing this for over 300 years and I am proud of the time and commitment that our members have given to support the nation in its fight against Covid-19.”

In addition to the £1m donated in 2020, the Freemasons have committed a further fund of £2.1m to support the ongoing Covid-19 crisis response. Of that £2.1m, £850,000 has been allocated to support homeless people through several charities with which UGLE partners.

More than 40,000 homeless individuals are being provided with food and essentials, transport, help with accessing services such as counselling and healthcare, as well as employment and training opportunities.

Edinburgh charities to benefit from Barratt’s £57,500 charity fund to aid pandemic recovery

– Funds set to boost employability and supported education in east Scotland –

Local housebuilder Barratt Developments Scotland has pledged to support the nation’s recovery from the pandemic with a £57,500 investment in employability and education, including £20,000 for the east of Scotland.

Two Edinburgh charities which aim to bolster employability and promote a fair and inclusive education for vulnerable young people have been selected to receive a share of the funds – employability charity WorkingRite and education charity Kindred.

Alison Condie, Managing Director at Barratt Developments East Scotland, said: “Employability and education are two areas which will be vital in aiding Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic – which is why we are focusing our efforts on supporting charities carrying out this work day to day.

“It’s always been the Barratt way to give back to the communities in which we have a presence, and it’s been great to hear how the donations will help WorkingRite and Kindred support people into employment and give young people the best chance to succeed at such a challenging time.”

Employability

With redundancy levels across the UK hitting record highs, the need for new opportunities and reskilling programmes has never been greater. Barratt’s donation to WorkingRite comes at a vital time and will ensure that young people have access to potentially life changing support.

WorkingRite has a proven track record in helping individuals improve their prospects and maximise their potential by matching a young person to a small business in their local community, where they learn valuable skills ‘on-the-job’.

Barratt Developments itself is a major champion of employability. Its graduate and apprenticeship recruitment programmes have continued in spite of the pandemic, and it is currently working with the veteran community to create opportunities for those leaving the armed forces.

Sandy Campbell, Founder of WorkingRite, said: “WorkingRite greatly appreciate the generous donation from Barratt Homes. As we emerge from Covid restrictions, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds need all the help they can get to achieve a working future.

“Barratt’s donation will help make that happen – by funding the training and mentoring we provide for those of our young people who are hoping for careers in the construction trades.”

Supported education

Also receiving a donation is Kindred, a parent-led organisation that helps support children with disabilities and long-term conditions. Last year, Kindred supported hundreds of families with its services, which include a team at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children and a community team that works across its services with parents of children with exceptional healthcare needs.

Sophie Pilgrim, Director of Kindred, said: “We are delighted to accept an amazing donation from Barratt Homes East Scotland. We support over 700 families of children with complex needs each year from across Scotland.

“Living in a safe and comfortable home has been especially important to families of children with disabilities over the last year. Kindred has supported 98 families to find the right, adapted accommodation so we are particularly pleased to be supported by a housing provider.

“Our hospital team will be moving to the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh and we will use the funds from Barratt to help us manage to move to our own new home! A big thank you from our staff and families.”

For more information on Barratt Developments East Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/scotland-east/.