Tag: charity support

Three charities in the East of Scotland secure share of £25,000

Three good causes across the East of Scotland have secured a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative.

The funds were allocated to The Rosebery Centre, Leuchie House and Play Therapy Base following a vote by Scotmid Members.

The Rosebery Centre, based in Polbeth, West Lothian, has been awarded £15,000. The charity supports older people living with dementia in the community. This funding will be used to provide nutritious healthy lunches and snacks, offering members valuable time to socialise and helping to combat the isolation they face due to their condition.

Leuchie House, based in East Lothian, has been awarded £5,000. The charity provides people living with neurological conditions and their families with access to short respite breaks. The funding will go towards the tailored activities & entertainment provided with every break helping to improve health, enables independence and reduces loneliness.

The final good cause group in the East of Scotland to have been awarded £5,000 funding is Play Therapy Base.  The Dalkeith based charity works with children aged 3-14 who are experiencing emotional distress.

Services include weekly 1-1 play & art sessions with experienced therapists, either in the community or within one of the dedicated playrooms. Funding will contribute to the running and resourcing of these playrooms which are used by around 60 children each week.

Anne Marson, Centre Manager at The Rosebery Centre, said: “We are overwhelmed with this generous donation from Scotmid.

“The support will enable us to continue providing healthy meals to members while they socialise together, significantly improving the quality of life for dementia patients.”

Claire Williams, Head of Fundraising at Leuchie House, said: “We are so grateful for this incredible contribution from Scotmid.

“This support will enable Leuchie to reimagine respite as a service that delivers more, beyond the break, to improve the health of our guests, enable their independence and reduce the loneliness experienced by many as a result of their condition.”

Linda Cuthbert, Service Manager at Play Therapy Base, said: “Thanks to Scotmid’s generous funding, we can keep providing life-changing play and art therapy sessions to children who need it most.

“This £5,000 will go directly toward maintaining our playrooms, where dozens of young people find comfort, support, and emotional healing every week.”

Keen to support local good causes? Pop into your local Scotmid and pay £1 to become a member.

Duddingston Dental Practice continuing to support LifeCare

Staff and patients at Duddingston Dental Practice are proudly continuing their support of renowned local charity LifeCare Edinburgh.  

The dental team are actively getting involved with a huge number of activities to help raise vital funds for the charity which has provided care for older people in Edinburgh for over 80 years.

Duddingston Dental chose LifeCare as their charity partner in 2023 and the team have done an amazing job rolling up their sleeves and jumping into a variety of challenges including the Forth Bridge Abseil and most recently, they entered a team of five in the Kiltwalk.  

LifeCare offer a range of compassionate and considered services for older people to enable them to continue to live independently.  The charity supports people living with dementia, those who are frail, who are isolated and those who are struggling with other health issues.  

Over 75% of the charity’s clients live alone and services include registered outreach and day clubs, help at home, meals on wheels, wellbeing support for unpaid carers, Vintage Vibes companionship and a Saturday Social warm space. Collectively these services support over 900 older people a year and all the charity’s services are either subsidised or provided for free for those struggling on a low income. 

The Cottage on Milton Road East, nearby to the Duddingston Practice, is home to one of LifeCare’s day clubs for people living with dementia.  The team have been volunteering their time at the Cottage on a regular basis with cleaning, painting, supporting clients in their recent sponsored walk 

Amy Robertson, Fundraising Coordinator at LifeCare said “We are so grateful to the brilliant team at Duddingston Dental Practice.  

“They’ve raised over £1,704 for LifeCare already but they have also done so much more than that. They’ve engaged with our clients, got to know our staff and raised awareness of our services amongst their patients.  We are absolutely delighted to be working alongside them and can’t wait to see where this partnership goes.

“Local older people rely on our support to help them keep physically and mentally well, and in the current climate our accessible services have never been needed more.  We are always eager to chat with businesses keen to get involved – to both raise funds and to support our services through volunteering.  

“We are actively encouraging anyone interested to get in touch by giving us a call or dropping in to our centre on Cheyne Street.  We always look forward to meeting new kind-hearted local people, please do get in touch for a chat!”

LifeCare Edinburgh is a registered charity and relies on the support of its funders. For more information visit https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk

Limitless DMC completes 20-mile Edinburgh Kiltwalk in support of ForRefugees charity

Limitless DMC team members, Angela Inglis, Geoff Crow, and Pamela Badham, successfully completed the 20-mile Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday 15th of September, raising £4,751 in support of ForRefugees.

The funds will go directly towards vital initiatives to support refugees across Europe, with the team aiming to reach a final fundraising target of £5,000.

The money raised will support several key initiatives led by ForRefugees over the next few months.

In Athens, the charity will provide language lessons and vocational training for refugees aged 18-25, equipping them with essential skills to rebuild their lives.

Additionally, a mobile ‘free clothes’ shop will be established, providing clothing to those in need. The funds will also be used to provide food vouchers in Lithuania. These three initiatives are estimated to assist approximately 5,000 people in total.

Angela Inglis, Director at Limitless DMC,has a personal connection to ForRefugees, having travelled to Greece last year with the charity’s founder, Amber Bauer.

During her visit, she witnessed the challenging conditions in refugee camps, an experience that further fuelled her commitment to raising awareness and support for the cause.

Angela said: “Completing the Kiltwalk was a challenging experience, but it’s nothing compared to the hardships that refugees face daily. Every pound we raise makes a direct impact on their lives.”

Directors Geoff Crow and Pamela Badham joined Angela on this journey, driven by the desire to contribute to the charity’s meaningful work.

Pamela Badham, Director at Limitless DMC, said: “We’ve been inspired by the resilience of the people ForRefugees helps. Being able to contribute to their efforts in a tangible way is incredibly rewarding.”

As the team seeks to reach their £5,000 fundraising goal, they invite further support from the community. Donations can be made via their GiveMatch page, where contributions will be matched to maximise the impact of each donation.

The funds raised will have a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of refugees and displaced individuals, providing educational opportunities, essential clothing, and food security to those who need it most.

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit the GiveMatch page: https://givematch.com/fr/Om2bPWHk. 

The MoonWalk Scotland brings sparkle to the streets of Edinburgh!

Scotland’s iconic night time fundraising event, The MoonWalk Scotland, lit up the streets of Edinburgh last night (Saturday 7th September). 

Hundreds of women, men and young people wearing brightly decorated bras or colourful “bra t-shirts” set off from Holyrood Park at 11pm, to walk a half or full marathon through the capital, to raise money for breast and other cancers.

Glittering light installations showed MoonWalkers the way, with iconic buildings across the Edinburgh skyline also lit up pink in their honour, including:  Camera Obscura, Lloyds on the Mound, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Radisson Blu Hotel and the Stamp Office.

Dozens of walkers also took on a walking challenge virtually, in their own areas.

Organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, Scotland’s MoonWalk has raised an incredible £22 million since the event was first staged in 2006.

Funds awarded by Walk the Walk make a huge difference to people across Scotland living with cancer – recent grants have been made to the Beatson Cancer Charity, Ayrshire Cancer Support and Make 2nds Count. 

To register your interest for The MoonWalk Scotland 2025 go to:

 www.walkthewalk.org

Care Home celebrates International Day of Charity 

Residents and staff at Strachan House in Edinburgh got together and collected food items, toiletries and treats for the local community charity L.I.F.T at Muirhouse Millennium Centre.

Staff and residents at Strachan House have given back to the local community today by donating these wonderful hampers to the local community charity L.I.F.T. 

 The local charity L.I.F.T supports the local community in a holistic way and ensures that children get the very best start to reach their full potential.

Frances Fisher, General Manager at Strachan House said: “We love to fundraise for charities throughout the year. We pick different causes to support that have been selected by staff, residents and friends of the home.

“Our staff and residents donated food items, treats and toiletries to the charity and our wonderful residents supported putting together the hamper! 

“Everyone was overjoyed with the end product, and we hope that it brings comfort and joy to those who need it! Thank you to everyone who donated!”  

Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides dementia, residential care, and respite care. 

Aspiring footballers score donation from Amazon in Edinburgh

The Amazon Edinburgh team has collaborated with David Pollacchi, Managing Director of Lomax Sports to support Firrhill High School and the Kevin Thomson Academy with donations of over £3,000 worth of equipment.

The football coaching kits include embroidered sportswear, footballs and cones. The academy will use the equipment as part of a partnership with Firrhill High School, a secondary school based in south- west Edinburgh, which has received two sets of 11 aside school football kits as part of the donations. 

The Kevin Thomson Academy (KTA) offers football coaching across the city through classes, private and team sessions. The Academy is run Kevin Thomson, a former Scottish professional footballer who played for clubs including Hibs, Middlesborough and Rangers.

David Pollacchi has a proven track record of making a tangible difference within communities in Edinburgh and has been formally recognised by Sportscotland, Scottish Football Association and the City of Edinburgh for driving sporting initiatives to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of children within the city.

To mark the donation, members of the Amazon team and the Kevin Thomson Academy visited staff and pupils from Firrhill High School to donate the items.

Ethan Smith from Amazon in Edinburgh said: “As an avid football fan, I’m so pleased Amazon has supported Firrhill High School and the Kevin Thomson Academy with these donations.

“It was a pleasure meeting pupils and members of the school and academy, and I hope this donation makes a lasting impact.”

Kevin Thomson added: “We want to express our thanks to Ethan and the team at Amazon in Edinburgh for this donation.

“Football is our passion and with donations like this, we can continue to support young people across the city in developing their skills and keeping fit. Huge thanks to David Pollacchi for managing and facilitating the whole process end to end over a number of months.

” We look forward to our training with Firrhill High School.” 

Graham Hamilton, Headteacher at Firrhill High School, said: “Thank you to David Pollacchi and Kevin Thomson, generously supported by Amazon in Edinburgh, for this donation of equipment, which means so much to our pupils.

“It was great to meet David, Kevin and the team from Amazon and we look forward to the sessions run by the Kevin Thomson Academy and to many victories in these new strips.”

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.

Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 4 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, and London.

Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

James is going all the way for charity Winston’s Wish

  • Man’s First Visit to Scotland is 1,000 Mile Charity Ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats
  • James Beeson is cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for children and young people’s national bereavement charity Winston’s Wish 

Personal trainer James Beeson, 41, has decided to take on the mammoth challenge of cycling nearly 1,000 miles across nine days from the bottom of England to the top of Scotland to raise funds for a special cause.

As well as taking part in an incredible challenge that will see James cycle roughly 110 miles each day as he completes the huge 9-day cycle, the occasion will also mark James’ first visit to Scotland! He says, “I’ve never been to Scotland before so I’m excited for that and I’m looking forward to seeing different parts of the countryside. Cycling is a completely different experience and I know the views will make all the uphill worth it. The event is really well organised with a proper route and overnights in key location complete with hot food and conveniences.

With a fundraising target that has already raised thousands of pounds for Winston’s Wish, the UK’s first children and young people’s charity as well as regional charity Simon Says, James is keen to raise awareness and funds for a cause that is close to his heart.

James explains, “I had just turned seven when I lost my dad in a car accident on the way home from his works Christmas party. Just five years later just as I started secondary school, I also lost my mum to cancer. I know from personal experience just how difficult it is to cope with grief, as a young child and especially as you get older. 

“I was one of the fortunate ones in that my aunt and uncle took me in but there was no professional support easily available to kids in my situation.

“When I was younger, I was just quiet but as I grew older, I found myself getting more and more angry and found myself in lots of tough circumstances. How do you learn to become an adult when you’ve lost two parents?”

James is very much looking forward to travelling to new parts of the country. He says that cycling is, “Also really crucial for headspace too. Running a business and having a family means life is always busy and dealing with your own head can be tough. I’m at peace on my bike, it’s my time to wind down and switch off and allow myself to have that headspace.”

James initially decided to undertake the Ride Across Britain challenge of cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats when a friend asked for his support to train. He says, “I thought that if I’m going to take part in the cycle then I wanted to do it for a charity that was making such a difference. 

“Simon Says is a local charity and Winston’s Wish supports grieving kids all over the UK and they continue to support bereaved young people right to the age of 25 which I think is a really critical stage, especially when you’ve suffered bereavement. You’re trying to navigate lots of circumstances. You are expected to be an adult and grow up, but you start questioning everything and struggle to fit into a normal world.”

Estimates suggest that each day more than 100 young people are bereaved of a parent and that figure doesn’t equate how many are having to navigate the death of a friend, sibling, teacher or another significant person in their lives. 

Established in 1992, Winston’s Wish has been reaching and supporting bereaved young people and the adults around them when their worlds are turned upside down for more than 30 years. The charity provides support via online content, the Grief in Common Podcast series, as well as on-demand services such as live chat on the website, freephone and ask inbox as well as one-to-one sessions by referral.

James adds, “I am pleased to be raising funds to help support a charity that directs gives advice and support to grieving children and young people.

“I know just how important it is to get help. I still often struggle especially on memorable days or events but have much better systems in place due to years of working on myself with help from loved ones and many different experienced professionals over the years.

“I want to help children who are in a similar situation to me and give them a better chance of coming out it stronger.” 

If you are interested in finding out more about James and his incredible journey or to support him in his venture, then please view his Just Giving page which includes updates on his progress. 

Winston’s Wish is keen to reassure bereaved young people and their families that they are welcome to chat online, email or call for free to speak to a bereavement support worker by calling 08088 020 021, emailing ask@winstonswish.org or using the live chat at winstonswish.org. 

Local Sports Clubs could score £2500 funding from Aldi Scotland

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its ninth consecutive year, giving local sports clubs in Edinburgh and the Lothians the opportunity to receive a share of £50,000 in funding.

Aldi Scotland introduced its Scottish Sport Fund in 2016, with the aim of motivating and encouraging individuals of all ages and skill levels to participate in physical activities within their local communities.

Committed to improving community access to sports across the country, the fund offers sports clubs across Scotland the opportunity to secure essential funding. With a range of funding tiers available, one club per region will benefit from a £2,500 funding boost.

Since the fund’s launch, almost 600 clubs in Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of more than £400,000. 

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund welcomes applications from all sporting organisations that meet the specified criteria. In 2023, Aldi provided support to various sports clubs across Scotland, including Forth Valley Visually Impaired Bowlers, Sutherland Squash Club, Breadalbane Canoe Club, Musselburgh Windsor Girls Football Club, and Galloway Hillbillies Bike Club. This supplementary funding assisted the clubs in financing training sessions and acquiring new equipment.

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director, said: “Since 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sports Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.

“We remain committed to supporting sports clubs across Scotland to help continue the fantastic work they do in their local communities. Every year, we are blown away by the volume of applications we receive, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming even more in 2024. I encourage all sports clubs across Edinburgh and the Lothians to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”

Sports clubs located across Edinburgh and the Lothians have from Monday 2 September – Sunday 6 October to apply for funding.

One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding. Applications can be made via a form found on

 https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. 

Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.

Edinburgh care home residents do Memory Walk for Alzheimer Scotland

Residents and staff at an Edinburgh care home have joined a fundraising challenge that pays tribute to people with dementia by walking more than three miles around their gardens.

More than a dozen residents and staff from HC-One Scotland’s Murrayfield House Care Home have teamed up to take part in Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk fundraising campaign.

With the aid of frames and wheelchairs, the residents – aged from 77 to 97 – have been walking around the care home’s gardens and along nearby Murrayfield Avenue, gathering donations in local shops along the way.

Led by wellbeing coordinator Margaret Finch, the walkers aim to complete the 5km challenge in stages over a number of days.

They have already raised more than £1,000 and counting – smashing their initial target of £300 – but hope to raise even more vital funds to support dementia care, research and improvements in brain health.

Margaret, 63, from the city’s Silverknowes area, has worked at Murrayfield House Care Home for five years.

She said: “The residents and staff were keen to do the Memory Walk because so many of us have either had support from Alzheimer Scotland or have a loved one who has been affected by dementia. My late mum had vascular dementia so I’ve had first-hand experience of the impact this illness can have.

“Alzheimer Scotland do such important work – funding research and fighting the stigma around dementia – and we are all determined to raise as much money as we can for them.

“Our manager Fiona Truesdale gave us the idea to organise the Memory Walk and we’ve had such great support for it from the whole team, including my fellow wellbeing coordinator Norma Mackie.

“The residents have loved putting on their purple t-shirts and taking part.”

One of the oldest walkers is 96-year-old retired engineer Douglas Lamond. Douglas said: “I like to keep fit by doing exercises every morning, so I was delighted to take part in the Memory Walk and cheer the group on.”

Other walkers included Doreen Hall, 88, who lives at the home with husband David, 88, and Elspeth Braidwood, 80, a former Sunday school teacher who used to work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Doreen’s daughter Debbie said: “My mum Doreen has dementia and Alzheimer Scotland have been a great support, not just for her but also for my dad David who cared for her when they both lived in their own home.

“It’s wonderful that they have the opportunity to support the charity through the Memory Walk.”

The Memory Walk campaign allows people across Scotland to take part in organised events throughout September, or to complete the challenge at a time and place that suits them by doing Your Walk, Your Way.

Events are taking place in Inverness, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and children can be registered for free. It’s quick and easy to set up a sponsorship page, which can be shared with family, friends and colleagues.

Every penny raised will help people with dementia and their carers, as well as supporting better brain health for everyone in Scotland.

Lauren Heap, centre manager for Alzheimer Scotland’s Edinburgh and West Lothian Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is proud to support people living with dementia and their families and carers, from our centre here in Edinburgh.

“Scotland’s Memory Walk has always had a wonderful ability to bring people together. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the lives of people with dementia and walk to remember them. Every pound raised helps Alzheimer Scotland continue to develop and deliver vital dementia support.”

Chris Kamara launches new campaign to get children around the world back into education

Street Child charity launches ‘Back to School’ campaign to give every child that ‘first day’ feeling

TV football presenter and Sky Sports legend Chris Kamara has today launched a new campaign to get children around the world back into education.

Former Brentford and Leeds United footballer Chris is an ambassador of Street Child, the international education charity dedicated to changing the lives of the world’s most marginalised children.

Street Child’s ‘Back to School’ campaign, which launches today (August 22), just before most UK children return to classrooms, will support thousands of young people in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere access education – many for the first time.

Over the last 15 years, Street Child has helped more than a million children get into school, and currently works in more than 25 countries around the world. But according to estimates, there are still more than 60 million primary school-aged children worldwide not currently in school.

For the equivalent of £1 a week, donors can support a child’s education for a whole year, and for every person who sets up a regular gift before the end of September, the charity will pledge to get one child back into school this term.

Chris Kamara said: “There was nothing like the buzz of the first day back at school – catching up with mates after the summer holidays, getting back on the football pitch, and making new friends.

“But not all children are so lucky. Street Child does so much for kids across the world, making sure they get to learn in safe, fun environments when otherwise they would never get the chance.”

As part of the ‘Back to School’ campaign, Street Child has also launched the ‘Big School Walk’, with the hopes of seeing hundreds of parents, pupils and teachers across the UK clad in orange – Street Child’s colour – walking to school to raise vital funds this September.

Public donations will help to directly fund children’s education in countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe:

• £12 could support an emergency-affected student returning to school in Somalia with school materials to last them a term 

• £33 could provide a child in Liberia with an education support package, including a school bag, new uniform, exercise books and new pens 

• £250 could provide a family with a business grant that enables them to afford the costs of sending two children back to school 

And regular gifts can buy: 

• £4 per month could support one child’s education for a whole year 

• £12 per month could support three children’s education for a whole year 

• £20 per month could support five children’s education for a whole year

Street Child CEO and Founder, Tom Dannatt said: “As a dad, I know the joy of seeing my children prepare for their first day back at school – that mix of nerves and excitement but most of all, the thrill of possibility. Right now, more than 60 million primary-aged children around the world aren’t able to experience that feeling.

“That’s where Street Child comes in. We are experts in connecting children to education in the most disaster-hit and lowest-income countries around the world, such as Cameroon and Afghanistan.

“Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty – for every year spent in school, a child’s life chances improve enormously, and so do the lives of future generations. For just £1 a week, we can get a child into school this year, and quickly on their way to a better future.”

Other famous faces backing Street Child’s campaign are former Apprentice and Countdown star Nick Hewer and TV presenter Ade Adepitan.

Speaking in support of the ‘Back to School’ campaign, Nick Hewer said: “Education is opportunity. Not only is it the key to unlocking a child’s full potential, but people’s ability to read, write and build relationships supports local economies, lifts communities out of poverty, and will benefit generations to come.

“The first day of school is all about the excitement of unlimited possibility – for £1 a week, Street Child can help children in the world’s poorest countries experience that joy. I’ve seen first-hand the impact of Street Child’s work and encourage everyone to support them this back-to-school season.”

Ade Adepitan added: “I had a great education, which taught me from an early age that I could achieve anything I put my mind to – whether it was in sport, TV or journalism.

“It’s so important that every child, no matter their circumstance, can access education. Having travelled the world, I have met countless children who have never been to school. By supporting Street Child, you will help more children reach their true potential.”

For more information about Street Child and the ‘Back to School’ campaign, visit:

 street-child.org