charity partners – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

St James Quarter offers FREE therapy sessions to mark Mental Health Awareness Week

St James Quarter marks Mental Health Awareness Week with a host of wellbeing activities
A Listening Space will open in Quarter to make mental health support accessible
The activities will fundraise for St James Quarter’s two charity partners, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, St James Quarter is hosting a programme of wellbeing activities in partnership with Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid to support the community in the capital.

Making mental health support and guidance more accessible for people living in Edinburgh, Listening Spaces will open in the Quarter from 16th May. Launched by Health in Mind, the space will offer guests one-to-one time with a trained expert to talk about their mental wellbeing and receive compassionate advice, support and resources.

The free, weekly sessions will initially run for a six week period and be delivered from 2pm to 4pm in the Guest Services Lounge.

On Wednesday 15 May, Everyman Cinema will transform into a calming haven with a free mindfulness experience. Hosted by Health and Mind, the session will explore the body and bodily sensations as a source of mindful awareness. This session will end with mood and energy-boosting tips from Neom Wellbeing, leaving guests feeling relaxed and in tune with their minds. There’s limited spots which can be booked at bit.ly/3JSVbor.

In a bid to brighten guests’ days during Mental Health Awareness Week, local magician, Grant Mitchell, will be sprinkling some magic in the Quarter with mood-boosting tricks that are guaranteed to put a smile on faces on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May. Talented musician, Dan Collins, will also entertain guests with feel-good tracks on Thursday 16th May.

The team at St James Quarter continues to show its commitment to its charity partners. On Friday, 16 members of the team will put on their walking boots to climb Ben Chonzie in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, and to raise funds to support its two charity partners, Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid.

Kerry Girdwood, Senior Services Manager (North) at Health in Mind, who will be managing the new drop-in Listening Space, said: “Around 1 in 3 people in Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and with added pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, the fallout from the Covid pandemic, pressure on public services, and conflict around the world, that number is only climbing.

“We’ve run Listening Spaces in communities around Scotland, where people can chat through their mental health difficulties, access resources, and get connected to services. Thanks to this new pilot with St James Quarter, we’ll be doing all that in one of Edinburgh’s busiest community hubs.”

Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality Director and CSR Committee Chair said, “We know how hard it can be to make the first step and reach out for support, and sometimes you just don’t know where to start.

“At St James Quarter, we’re perfectly positioned to make mental wellbeing support more accessible in the city centre and we’re really excited about this opportunity to offer a Listening Space with Health in Mind.

“The Quarter is a welcoming and supporting place for all our guests and however you’re feeling this Mental Health Awareness Week, I encourage you to join us for a mindfulness session, enjoy some feel-good entertainment, or meet the team from Health in Mind.

“It is a privilege to have two brilliant partner charities and every donation to Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind supports them to provide valuable services in the city.”

To keep up to date with events happening throughout the Quarter, visit the St James Quarter website or download the St James Quarter App.

Activities taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week:

Monday 13 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell

Tuesday 14 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell

Wednesday 15 May – Mindfulness Session with Health in Mind

Thursday 16 May – Listening Spaces with Health in Mind & Music from Dan Collins

Friday 17 May – Team SJQ Munro Climb

For more information, please email: stjamesquarter@johndoehub.com

Gillespie Macandrew donates record £48,000 to its charity partners

Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew has donated a record £48,000 to the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Alzheimer Scotland as part of its annual commitment to its charity partners.

The firm donates 1% of its pre-tax profits each year and this year announced double digit income growth for the second consecutive year with turnover reaching £16.8m.

These donations are part of a wider programme of engagement with the charities, which includes volunteering and fundraising activities.

The firm began its partnership with ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland in 2021 after both charities were nominated and chosen by staff. The firm’s overall financial contributions now total over £126,000, shared between the two charities during this period.

Gillespie Macandrew’s commitment to supporting charitable causes is a key element of its overall ESG programme, having donated more than £250,000 to Scottish charities over the past eight years.

Robert Graham-Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at Gillespie Macandrew commented: “We are delighted to be able to share the firm’s success with these two very important charities who provide invaluable support to families in Scotland.

“We continue to offer practical support to our charity partners and our staff regularly take part in volunteer days with both ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland, from working in the hospital garden to setting up fundraising events.

“This year Gillespie Macandrew staff also had the opportunity to join Dementia Friends training sessions to learn more about dementia and the small ways in which people can help.”

Roslyn Neely, Chief Executive Officer at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, commented: “We are so pleased to be the recipients of this incredible support from Gillespie Macandrew which will help provide our life changing work in The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

“No child wants to be in hospital, but for those who must be, ECHC is there to make that experience as positive as possible. Thank you to everyone in Gillespie Macandrew for their kindness and for choosing to help babies, children, and young people with this generous gift.”

Jonathan Mitchell, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “We are delighted to receive this very generous donation of £24,000.

“Alzheimer Scotland depends on fundraising and every penny raised will help us to continue to fund our vital network of Dementia Advisors, Dementia Centres and 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000), that provide critical support for people living with dementia and those who care for them.

“Without the amazing efforts of our supporters, we would not be able to deliver this vital help. This donation from Gillespie Macandrew helps us to Prevent Today, Care Now and Cure Tomorrow.”

Gillespie Macandrew has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, advising clients on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, renewable energy, tax and disputes, combining a personal approach with industry-leading expertise.

Gillespie Macandrew donates £40,000 to its charity partners

Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew has made a significant charitable donation of £40,000 to be shared between its two charity partners, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Alzheimer Scotland.

As part of its ESG programme, in each of the last 7 years Gillespie Macandrew has donated around 1% of the firm’s annual pre-tax profits to its partner charities. In total this commitment has contributed over £210,000 to Scottish charitable causes.

The firm’s charity partners are nominated and chosen by staff and supported through volunteering and other activities. Last year Gillespie Macandrew began a three-year partnership with both ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland.

Robert Graham-Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at Gillespie Macandrew commented: “We are delighted to share the firm’s success with these two very important Scottish charities, particularly during a period of recessionary pressures for organisations and individuals.

Our practitioners deal with sensitive family matters every day and it is therefore very fitting that we support ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland who provide invaluable support to Scottish families.”

Victoria Buchanan, Deputy Director of Development at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, commented: “Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity is thrilled to receive this wonderful donation of £20,000! Being in hospital is tough for children but this donation will make things easier for them and their families.

“Through ECHC’s daily art activities, youth work and family programme on the wards, children can have fun and feel better supported to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

“We’d like to thank everyone at Gillespie Macandrew for their generous donation.”

Caroline Miller, Lead for Stakeholder Engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “We are so grateful to all of the people at Gillespie Macandrew for their continued support over the past year.

“People living with dementia and those who love them continue to be disproportionately affected by the legacy of the pandemic and the effects of the cost-of-living crisis so it’s vital that we continue to be there to make sure no one faces dementia alone.

“Gillespie Macandrew have made an incredible contribution during our partnership, raising over £40,000 which has all been used to support people living with dementia here in Scotland. Services supported include our network of Dementia Advisors who provide personal support, advice and advocacy and our Freephone 24 Hour helpline which is a lifeline for so many”.

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, advising clients on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes, combining a personal approach with industry-leading expertise.

Christmas: The lights are on at St James Quarter!

It’s Christmaaaas! St James Quarter has celebrated the launch of its festive season with Forth One’s Boogie, Arlene and Marty hosting its ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event on Thursday.

They were joined by representatives from St James Quarter’s charity partners, Cash 4 Kids and Deaf Action, who pushed the big red button and declared it officially Christmas at The Quarter.

Edinburgh Rock Choir echoed joyful tunes throughout the galleria as crowds gathered to watch over 40 glowing sculptures light up and give an explosion of colourful sparkle.

To help spread Christmas cheer, St James Quarter also donated over £6,000 worth of prizes to Forth One’s Boogie in the Morning ‘Supervan’ campaign, which has raised £100,545 to support children who are disadvantaged by poverty, the rise in living costs and trauma.

The prizes, which included a £500 gift voucher, a 12-month Sky Q TV subscription, dinner for four at Maki & Ramen and a year’s membership at Everyman, were collected during the ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event ready for the lucky winner to take home.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “It was fantastic to see everyone turn out for the Christmas light switch on last night, it was a true moment of togetherness and community.

“Boogie, Arlene and Marty got the crowds ready for the festive season and we are so proud that St James Quarter was able to support the Supervan campaign this year – it’s been wonderful to see the exceptional amount of funds raised to support those who need it most. We wish all of our guests in Edinburgh and across Scotland a very Merry Christmas for 2022.”

St James Quarter, Edinburgh, Christmas Light Switch on

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids said: “We have been absolutely delighted with the donations towards our Supervan campaign from St James Quarter and the many retailers.

“Over £6,000 worth of items and experiences was an absolutely fantastic effort and what better way to celebrate than ending our Supervan journey at The Quarter by having Boogie, Arlene and Marty switching on the Christmas Lights.

“We are so grateful to be the chosen charity partner alongside Deaf Action and bringing our cause to the forefront at Edinburgh’s most incredible venue.”

St James Quarter launches gift wrapping service to raise festive funds for charity partners

With 12 days until Christmas, St James Quarter has launched a brand-new gift-wrapping service, giving shoppers a helping hand this festive season.

Located on level one of the Galleria, the St James Quarter volunteers can expertly wrap gifts of all shapes and sizes, in exchange for a charity donation for the shopping destination’s charity partners, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Deaf Action.

The festive service launched on Saturday where the volunteers were joined by The Rolling Hills and St Giles choirs who serenaded shoppers with Christmas tunes to help spread the Christmas cheer this year.

The gift-wrapping service will continue until Christmas eve and is available from Thursday to Sunday, 12 noon until 6pm. St James Quarter is also spreading the festive cheer to the lower levels, with unlimited parking for £5 after 5:30pm this festive season.

For more information, please visit www.stjamesquarter.com

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.”

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.

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.

Get your votes in: Sainsbury’s seeks local charity partner

Local residents in North Edinburgh have the chance to find Sainsbury’s Blackhall a new local charity to support. It’s the fifth year of the retailer’s ‘Local Charity partner’ initiative, which gives local registered charities the chance to receive a year’s worth of fundraising and awareness support from store colleagues.

Customers and colleagues at Sainsbury’s Blackhall have played a big part in the success of the Local Charity partner initiative. Last year, their generous donations helped to raise £ 6,487.00 for St Columba’s Hospice.

Louise Stirton, Senior Fundraising Manager at St Columba’s Hospice (pictured below with Sainsbury colleagues) said: “Working with Sainsbury’s Blackhall over the last twelve months has made such a difference to our cause. They have raised a fantastic amount of money which we are putting towards our new building. A big thank you to all the staff and customers for their generosity.”

There are even more ways to vote this year. Alongside nomination forms and a drop-in box, now available in-store, customers can , for the first time, nominate online – either via downloading a voting form via Sainsbury’s website www.sainsburys.co.uk/localcharity or by emailing their nomination to Local.charity@sainsburys.co.uk.

Sainsburys Blackhall Store Manager David Bainbridge said: “Our work with previous Local Charity partners over the years has been really successful in letting our customers have their say. We hope our customers can take the time to vote in the coming weeks and give a local charity that’s close to their hearts the chance for us to support them”.

The winning charity will be announced in June.