Tag: charity support

Scotland’s Bishops say it’s not too late to get behind SCIAF’s WEE BOX appeal

The Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrew’s Diocese Leo Cushley, together with Scotland’s other Bishops, has given his blessing to SCIAF’s WEE BOX annual fundraising appeal and the issue of access to safe water.

SCIAF – the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Compelled by Christ’s love, it works with those in the world’s poorest places to end poverty, protect our common home, and help people recover from disaster. SCIAF inspires loving action in the Scottish Catholic community to sustain its work. 

Staff from SCIAF visited the Bishops as they gathered for regular conference at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre. 

Chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “We are so grateful to the Bishops of Scotland and Catholics across the country for their support already this Lent. Our supporters in Scotland are so generous and their support for people living in poverty around the world is really overwhelming.

“This year’s WEE BOX campaign aims to highlight the issue of access to clean water and the transformational work that SCIAF supporters are funding. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water close to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It was amazing to see the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.”

Bishop Brian McGee is SCIAF’s Bishop President. He said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?  We are so lucky here in Scotland and we just take it for granted that the water from our taps will always be there.  

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this. Please give what you can.” 

Please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.  

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox.

To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.  

Woman running 200 marathons in 200 days for charity brings message of hope and resilience to Edinburgh

Megan Boxall is aiming to become the fastest woman to run the entire coastline of Britain and is raising funds for Samaritans, a charity close to her heart.

Megan, who has been running a marathon almost every day since she set off from Suffolk on the 18th October, made it to Edinburgh on Saturday (11th April).

Since arriving in Scotland on the 19th January, Megan has run the length of the West coast of mainland Scotland, and is now on the home straight having run back down the East coast. She aims to have completed the entirety of the challenge by the 18th May, making her the fastest woman to do so.

In taking on this marathon challenge, Megan combines endurance sport with open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Not only has Megan raised £30,000 for the suicide prevention charity, but she is also spreading a message of resilience and hope, as well as raising awareness of mental health and help-seeking in rural and coastal communities.

In 2024, Megan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and faced struggles with her mental health. She made five calls to Samaritans that year which helped her through some of her most difficult moments.

Megan spoke about how important it was for her to have the live-saving opportunity to talk to a Samaritan about how she felt. She said: “Every 90 minutes someone dies by suicide in the UK.

“Samaritans is an amazing charity which is helping to prevent that number from becoming much higher. Its volunteers pick up the phone to someone in need once every ten seconds.

“In 2024, I made five calls to the charity (116 123). Their volunteers were there for me when the pain in my brain was so intense I couldn’t pick myself up off the floor.

“I only wish I had picked up the phone to them sooner.”

Megan follows in her late uncle’s footsteps, who walked the route aged 33 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Running 200 marathons in 200 days is no mean feat, and a grueling task even in the brightest of weather. The weather in Scotland can offer little encouragement during the early months of the year, but something which has brightened up each daily marathon for Megan has been the people of Scotland that have cheered her on so far.

Megan said: “I have really had some amazing experiences in Scotland so far. Overall, I have been blown away by the Scottish welcome. It really has been so uplifting and what Run Britain is all about.

“I hope that by talking more about my experiences with Samaritans and raising some money while I circle the country, I can help anyone who might be struggling.”

Running and being in nature alongside her dog, adopted from Dog’s Trust in 2022, helped Megan to find a way to cope and carry on. Megan hopes that her run will help raise awareness of Samaritans for anyone struggling with their mental health, as well as the benefits of spending time in nature enjoying the beauty of the coastline.

Megan’s dog, Shadow, accompanies her on some parts of her journey wearing her PitPat GPS tracker to stay safe and track her miles.

Megan started her 5,240-mile (8,433km) journey at Sizewell Beach in Suffolk on the 18th October, and hopes to finish at the same place in May.

Running groups and clubs are invited to join Megan on sections of her journey and can sign-up here. 

You can donate to Megan’s fundraiser through her JustGiving page.

Loganair opens applications for 2026 GreenSkies Community Fund

Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, is welcoming new applications to its GreenSkies Community Fund after distributing more than £100,000 to local projects over the last five years.

The bespoke environmental initiative, established in 2021, is designed to help charities, community groups, and small businesses to achieve their sustainability goals.

Applications for the fund are now open and will close on 7th May. Over the last five years, Loganair has awarded 24 projects over £100,000 in funding.

Last year’s successful projects included:

  • Murtle Garden in Aberdeen, which received £5,000 to install a new polytunnel in its walled garden, providing 50 young people living with learning disabilities access to a year-round growing and learning environment.
  • Shed the Light in Derry/Londonderry was awarded £5,000 to install a solar generator at Creggan Country Park to support its renewable energy workshops.
  • Winchester Hospice in Hampshire was granted £5,000 to purchase an e-bike and install bike parking to support low-emission palliative home care.
  • Gifford Community Woodland in East Lothian received £3,180 to plant 420 trees in an effort to restore woodland damaged by ash disease.
  • Uigshader Living Forest Project in Portree received £4,185 to purchase battery-powered tools for low-impact peatland restoration.

The variety of projects illustrates the breadth of the impact that the GreenSkies Community Fund has within communities, supporting organisations across a wide range of sectors to reduce their carbon footprint and improve sustainability.

Rebecca Borresen, director of safety and sustainability at Loganair, said: “Through our GreenSkies Community Fund, we’re proud to support the organisations and individuals taking practical steps to make their communities more sustainable. From restoring natural habitats to investing in renewable energy and low-emission transport, the projects we’ve funded so far show how local action can make a real difference.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the innovative ideas that come forward this year and continuing to support initiatives that help reduce environmental impact while delivering lasting benefits for communities across the UK.”

The GreenSkies Community Fund forms part of Loganair’s broader environmental programme, which includes commitments to carbon offsetting, investment in sustainable aviation technologies and achieving the ambitious target of becoming net zero by 2040.

Since its launch, the fund has supported numerous community projects and businesses across the UK in adopting greener practices and reducing their environmental impact.

The GreenSkies Community Fund is funded through a small mandatory carbon offsetting charge applied to every Loganair flight, with proceeds invested in accredited offsetting projects and community initiatives.

Interested organisations can learn more about the fund and submit their applications by visiting: 

https://www.loganair.co.uk/flying-with-us/greenskies-community-fund/

One City Trust: Annual Grants Programme now open

Applications are now open for @OneCitytrust Annual Grants Programme.

Grants of upto £6000 for projects that “Tackle the impact of poverty and promote inclusion“

Details here:

https://onecitytrust.com/news/news-2026-annual-grants-programme-in-now-open/

Theme:

 “Projects that tackle the impact of poverty and promote inclusion.”

Funding available:

In 2026 our grants will be available up to a maximum £6,000 each. However, we recognise that impactful activities can often cost less and we welcome applications of less than £6,000. We want to see projects that promote community activities, reduce poverty and the impact of poverty, tackle inequalities and enhance diversity and equality e.g. lunch clubs, cooking groups, arts and crafts and DIY projects.

Who can apply:

  • Any registered Scottish Charity or constituted community group, provided they are based in Edinburgh and focus their activities within the city boundary.
  • Organisations with an overall income of no more than £750,000. Please note priority will be given to those with an annual income of less than £600,000.
  • Applications may include core costs related to the delivery of the project such as utilities, salaries, venue hire and other costs which make the project viable.
  • Applications from partnerships or consortiums are welcomed, however, one of the partners must apply as the lead organisation who will be accountable for the grant.
  • Organisations funded by the Trust within the past two years can apply again, provided their application is for a completely different proposal than that which was previously funded.
  • A governing document, bank account in the name of the organisation and the most current signed charity accounts MUST be supplied.

 We will not fund:

  • Requests from individuals or non-constituted groups.
  • The following Projects or initiatives.
  • bodies constituted as statutory or other public-sector organisations.
  • Profit distributing companies, partnerships or organisations including CICs with share capital.
  • The promotion of faith groups, religion, political beliefs, or animal welfare.
  • Projects seeking repeat or multi-year funding.
  • large Festivals, Events, or theatrical adaption.
  • Foreign trips or overseas projects.
  • Organisations less than one year old.
  • Organisations out with the city boundary of Edinburgh, and
  • Organisations involved in the distribution of grants or funds to other organisation’s/individuals.

Apply by 8th May 2026

Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals raise over £46k for local charities

L-R: Tommy McCormick (Age Scotland), Judith King (When You Wish Upon a Star), Alan Thomson (Unique Assembly), Paul Wilson (OneCity Trust) and Fiona Williamson (Simon Community). Photo credit: Ian Georgeson

Encompassing Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay New Year festival, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival events are created and designed by Unique Assembly on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council.

Over the seven weeks of world-class events and attractions, the Festivals bring festive cheer to residents and visitors alike, putting Edinburgh on the world map as the key winter destination. They are the perfect combination of a global spectacle with community spirit at heart.

Both events have substantial and proven positive impact on both the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole, and just one of the examples of the benefits they bring is their work with local charities, fundraising and promoting the incredible work of organisations who are helping those who need it most:

OneCity Trust which fights against inequality and exclusion in Edinburgh
Age Scotland which provides connection, friendship and advice to older people.
Simon Community Scotland which provides safe places and support for people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness in Scotland.

When You Wish Upon A Star which grants wishes for children living with life-threatening illnesses.

Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals 2025 raised a total of £46,243.09 in donations, which means that the four official charity partners each receive a £11,560 donation from Unique Assembly.  



Alan Thomson, Co-Director, Unique Assembly said: “We are immensely proud to present our local charity partners with cheques of £11,560 each, and would like to thank those who made donations through purchasing tickets and at our fundraising events.

“It is a testament to the remarkable generosity of everyone who visited Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals. As an Edinburgh-based company, we’re continually inspired by the warmth, kindness, and festive spirit shown by people across this city.

“We are honoured to play a part in celebrating and strengthening the community we call home.”

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “I am delighted that these events not only bring economic benefits to the city, but also create opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors to come together and make a real difference for charities across Edinburgh.

“These diverse charities do valuable work every day to help individuals and families across the city, and these fundraising efforts help ensure they can continue providing that vital support.”

Annual Fettes fundraiser to help local youth club members

22nd March run hopes to raise £10k for FetLor, Scotland’s oldest youth club

An annual charity fun run organised by Fettes College will this year raise money for Scotland’s oldest youth club, enabling local school children to embark on the invaluable experience of a Duke of Edinburgh award.

FetLor Youth Club regularly welcome over 350 young people throughout the week to engage in entirely free sport and creative activity in a safe and warm environment.

The club was established in 1924 by former pupils from Fettes College and Loretto School and continues to maintain strong relationships with both schools. 

One of its primary aims is to provide opportunities that would ordinarily be out of reach for its members and this year Fettes has chosen to dedicate all the money raised from its fun run to FetLor.

The event, taking place on Sunday 22 March, will see hundreds of people running a 5K, 10K or half marathon distance both within Fettes’ grounds, around the city and further afield with Fettes alumni also undertaking their own runs from wherever they are in the world.

An inclusive event, participants are able to join in by cycling, rowing, walking or running on treadmills too.

FetLor will use any moneys raised to fund their Duke of Edinburgh award which currently has 18 participants enrolled on it – a life changing experience for many that develops new skills and helps participants achieve their potential.

Dr Richie Adams, Chief Executive, FetLor Youth Club said: “We’ve had the privilege of offering many young people the chance to take part in Duke of Edinburgh and have seen first-hand just how transformational it has been.

“With expanded horizons comes new aspirations and participating in the award helps our members see new opportunities and discover a higher potential.”

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: “The annual charity run at Fettes College is always a joyous spectacle and provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and Give Back.

“I am continually inspired by the team at FetLor Youth Club and their support of young people across Edinburgh. We are very proud to fundraise for them and their young members.”

The school hopes to raise around £10,000 with donations welcome on JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/fettesforfetlor

In addition to a warm and welcoming space at its youth club, FetLor also provide volunteering opportunities with SQA awarded points as well as wide-ranging educational assistance.

The youth club is open to young people of all ages and all activities are free. For more information, visit: https://www.fetlor.org.uk/

Edinburgh’s People’s Postcode Lottery players help school feeding charity hit £7 million milestone

Thanks to players, 478,968 children now receive nutritious meals through Mary’s Meals

Generous players of People’s Postcode Lottery in Edinburgh have helped raise more than £7 million for international school feeding charity Mary’s Meals, supporting its transformational work to encourage hungry children into the classroom and help them build a brighter future through education.

Founded in a shed in the Scottish Highlands, Mary’s Meals serves daily school meals to more than three million children in some of the world’s poorest communities. The charity’s school feeding programme provides nutritious daily meals that attract children into the classroom, where education becomes a pathway out of poverty.

The decade-long partnership between People’s Postcode Lottery and Mary’s Meals has achieved remarkable success. Thanks to players, 478,968 children now receive nutritious meals every school day, with more than 39 million meals served to date in 16 countries around the world through this support.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, says: “It’s fantastic to know that for a decade our players have supported the essential work of Mary’s Meals – and have now raised an incredible £7 million to help children across the globe access nutritious meals.

“This funding helps children in some of the most underserved communities go to school well fed, ready to learn and full of hope for a brighter future.”

During the first seven years of the partnership, funding from People’s Postcode Lottery players played a key role in supporting Mary’s Meals’ work including Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Ethiopia and South Sudan, as well as strengthening the organisation through key organisational development projects.

More recently, funding has been provided on an unrestricted basis, enabling Mary’s Meals to direct resources where they are needed most across all 16 countries where it operates.

The school feeding programme addresses a variety of challenges, including educational barriers and gender inequality. Girls account for 50% of the children benefiting from Mary’s Meals, yet with 119 million girls still out of school worldwide, ensuring access to education remains a vital step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

For 12-year-old Efigénia who attends Tindzawene Primary School in Mozambique, the promise of a daily school meal is a source of hope in challenging times. She says: “With school meals, I feel good because even with a lack of food at home, here at school I have a meal and I can study.”

Over the past ten years, players from Edinburgh have helped support significant milestones in the Mary’s Meals journey, from feeding one million children in 2015, to the expansion of school feeding programmes in Tigray, Ethiopia and Syria in 2017, and the launch of a new programme in Mozambique in 2024.

At the end of last year, Mary’s Meals reached a major milestone, now serving daily school meals to more than three million children worldwide. This achievement was driven by programme expansions in the first half of 2025, which saw 462,000 additional children across Ethiopia, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe benefit from the school feeding programme.

Such progress would not have been possible without the vital support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, whose contributions continue to fuel the charity’s growth.

Gemma Love, Philanthropy and Institutional Partnerships Manager, says: “We are incredibly grateful to People’s Postcode Lottery players in Edinburgh, whose ongoing support is helping us reach more children than ever before with a daily school meal that encourages learning, brings hope and changes lives.

“Seeing the difference this support makes for children and communities inspires us to keep going and to reach even more children in the years ahead.”

To find out more about the work of Mary’s Meals and ways to get involved, please visit marysmeals.org.uk.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo awards RAF charity £244,493 grant

The RAF Benevolent Fund is delighted to announce that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has generously awarded a grant of £244,493 following another outstanding Tattoo season in August 2025.

This support follows a year in which the Tattoo delivered its largest-ever combined charitable donations, reinforcing its role as a significant contributor to military welfare and wider cultural causes across the UK.

The Fund is deeply grateful for the substantial grant, which will be dedicated to enhancing its welfare delivery throughout Scotland. As with previous funding from the Tattoo, this contribution will play a vital role in supporting members of the RAF Family facing challenges such as financial hardship or ill health.

The grant will enable the Fund to provide life-changing assistance, including immediate hardship relief and independent living support, helping beneficiaries – many of whom are elderly veterans – remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes.

Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “We are incredibly thankful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its ongoing support and generosity.

“This significant grant will make a real difference to the lives of RAF veterans, service personnel and their families across Scotland. It ensures we can continue to stand alongside those who need us most, providing both immediate help and longer-term stability.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund has a long and valued relationship with the Tattoo, which has supported the Fund through multiple grants over many years. Previous donations have enabled vital welfare interventions, from essential home adaptations to financial assistance during illness, bereavement or unemployment.

Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said:
“2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and we’re incredibly proud to see its success translated into tangible support for charitable causes, including the RAF Benevolent Fund.

“Our mission has always been to use the platform of the Tattoo to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. We’re delighted that this year’s grant will support vital welfare work across Scotland for members of the RAF Family.”

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo continues to celebrate its landmark achievements, having announced in January its largest-ever charitable donation programme, totalling £1.5 million to military and arts organisations following the record-breaking success of its 2025 show, The Heroes Who Made Us.

The Tattoo is a huge immersive event held annually during August and will take place between 7-29 August 2026 with a show entitled A Call to Gather. Tickets can be purchased here.

As well as the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Tattoo also supports the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, and arts charities within the UK. 

Tesco shoppers select Corstorphine First Aid to receive a £1,500 donation

Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training is celebrating after being selected by  Tesco customers to receive a £1,500 donation.

Shoppers at Tesco Extra Corstorphine voted for local community causes using Tesco’s famous blue voting tokens, with three groups receiving cash grants as part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts campaign.

Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training was one of three local charities that customers voted for, receiving £1,500 as part of the scheme after receiving the most votes.

The winning charity is comprised entirely of volunteers, who are trained in first aid techniques and provide medical cover for events in Edinburgh and beyond, as well as first aid training to businesses and community groups.

The funds will allow the group to purchase essential first aid equipment so they can continue first aid training and help to keep people safe. 



Dominic Burns, Chair at Corstorphine First Aid Support and Training, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this funding as part of the Tesco Stronger Starts campaign, and would like to thank our local community for their votes.

“Corstorphine First Aid is a community focused charity and this money will be used to support our activity in teaching and providing life saving first aid skills to people across Edinburgh.” 

The other groups to receive grant funding from the store’s Stronger Starts blue token votes include The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland [RZSS] and Corstorphine Primary School, as well as Fox Covert Primary School.

The funding will support RZSS and Corstorphine Primary school in their joint initiative, which sees representatives from Edinburgh Zoo get the pupils involved with nature and animals through educational demonstrations within the school.

The grant awarded to Fox Covert Primary School, will support the school’s breakfast club, ensuring that all pupils can have a healthy snack and a good start to their day.

Stronger Starts helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, as well as purchasing equipment for healthy activities.

Deborah Brown, Community Champion at Tesco Corstorphine Extra, said: “Our Tesco team would like to thank all of our customers for their help in supporting these three fantastic causes through our Stronger Starts campaign. 

“Every vote helps us to provide funding to groups making a difference in our community.”

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: “We are incredibly proud to award Stronger Starts grants to over one hundred schools and local projects, supporting the vital work they do for our children and communities.

“Since we launched our grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.”

Simon Howie’s sold-out Puddin’ Race for SAMH hailed a Burns Night success

The Scottish Butcher, Simon Howie, has hailed the launch of its first-ever 5km Puddin’ Race a resounding success, after the Burns Night-inspired run sold out within just a few weeks with over 500 runners keen to ‘pud’ on their running gear and run for a haggis in support of mental health.

Held on Sunday 25 January 2026, Burns Night, at Simon Howie’s HQ in Dunning, Perthshire, the first-ever event welcomed runners of all abilities and all ages to take part in a feel-good race designed to boost wellbeing, celebrate Burns Night, and raise funds and awareness for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).

The morning kicked off with the Kids’ Fun Run. While this race wasn’t officially timed and was all about having fun, we have to give a special shout-out to Alex Martin and Ainsley Young as the first boy and girl home.

Huge well done to all our young runners!

Despite the slightly drizzly weather the 5k started in high spirits with a piper accompanying the runners over the start line. The 5k route is quite a challenging route with some steep uphill and traily sections so the winner Alastair Marshall was quite rightly hailed The Great Chieftain o’ The Puddin’ Race, setting an extremely impressive time of 15:58.

Donations were invited from all runners signing up to the event and over £1000 was raised for SAMH, to support the charity’s vital mental health services across Scotland, before the race even started.

The Puddin’ Race formed part of a wider January fundraising drive by Simon Howie, which also included the brand’s Sideburns Night campaign, a nationwide challenge encouraging supporters to grow their sideburns in the lead-up to Burns Night and donate £5 to SAMH. Together, the two campaigns combined Burns Night tradition with light-hearted fundraising to tackle the January blues and support mental wellbeing across Scotland.

Founder Simon Howie said: “As the UK’s number 1 haggis brand and a family business putting on a family friendly event that welcomes people of all ages, both from the local community but also from further afield, to join us here in Dunning to celebrate Burns Night has been extremely special.

“The weather this month has been brutal but this really has been a celebration of us hardy Scots. We don’t let a bit of rain stop us turning up, especially if there’s a haggis to win!

“Our organising team, Clair Howison, James Tree and Scott Thomson have pulled out all the stops, so I want to thank them personally for all that they have done.

“What began as a bit of a whacky idea has turning into a massive post-Christmas blues-buster. We were blown away by how quickly the race sold out and delighted by the money it raised for SAMH so while it was a lot of work to juggle during our busiest time of the year, we also hope this will be the first of many to come.”

Participants crossed the finish line to receive a celebratory haggis and commemorative medal, with many also sporting exclusive Puddin’ Race T-shirts and tote bags. The event atmosphere reflected its core aim of bringing people together, tackling the January blues and highlighting the positive impact of physical activity on mental wellbeing.

Hazel McIlwraith, Director of Fundraising and Major Appeal at SAMH, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Simon Howie and everyone who took part in the Puddin’ Race.

“Community events like this play a vital role in helping us continue our work supporting mental health across Scotland, while also encouraging people to look after their own wellbeing.”

Following the success of the inaugural event, Simon Howie has confirmed it is exploring plans for future editions of the Puddin’ Race.