charity support – Page 5 – The NEN

Hospital hub bolstered by Edinburgh developer

Children’s charity helped during toughest months with new funding

Edinburgh’s Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has been boosted at a crucial time following an £8,000 donation from a business close to its heart.

After completing the capital’s gruelling Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, an 11-strong team from residential developers Square & Crescent raised thousands of pounds that will go directly to the charity’s Hospital Hub.

The timely funds will support the charity’s active Hospital Hub, which is located within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and is at its busiest time during winter months.

Entirely reliant on donations, the Hub is the hospital’s wellbeing centre, acting as a non-clinical space for children and their families to spend time away from wards, allowing them to enjoy a range of activities, events and therapies.

The donation further strengthens the link between ECHC and Square & Crescent, with the latter refurbishing large elements of Edinburgh’s former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into its Royal Meadows development and agreeing a formal partnership earlier this year.

Kate Dixon, Corporate & Partnerships Lead at ECHC, said: “Square & Crescent’s donation comes at a really important time for ECHC. Our Hospital Hub sees the most use during the festive months, providing comforting respite for children and families during difficult hospital stays, so this extra funding is a great boost.

“Not only do we want to continue to improve the Hub’s facilities but it’s about expanding its offering past just a safe space, offering valuable activities and events so children and young people can make the best of a tricky time.

“We’re very grateful, not just for the latest funding from Square & Crescent, but for its ongoing support and collaboration with our charity.”

The team at Square & Crescent raised £8,000 by tackling the Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, which consists of reaching the peak and walking between seven of the famous hills in the capital – Arthurs Seat, Castle Rock, Calton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Braid Hills, Blackford Hill and Craiglockhart Hill.

ECHC is currently fundraising for its annual Christmas appeal, which aims to bring festive fun and happiness to children and families facing potentially life-changing hospital visits this December.

This includes a programme of daily activities throughout the month to make sure no one spending the season in hospital misses out on the magic. So far, children have been entertained by Santa abseiling into the building, a silent disco around the wards and a live pipe band.

ECHC’s former headquarters is one of the buildings being converted as part of the major Royal Meadows development, which will see the former hospital site transformed into a mix of luxury townhouses and apartments.

The charity was founded in the 1980s where it was based at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site near Edinburgh’s Meadows, before the hospital’s relocation to Little France in 2021.

Euan Marshall, Co-Founder and joint Managing Director of Square & Crescent said: “ECHC is doing incredible work so we were delighted to take on a challenge like the Seven Hills to raise vital funds.

“As we sensitively redevelop the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into our Royal Meadows development, we feel a real connection with the charity. It brings us a lot of pride to give back in any small way we can and to be able to support the vital work they are doing for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Square & Crescent’s Royal Meadows development is targeted for completion in 2025 and is set to launch a sales suite in early 2024. It spans across four-acres and is situated one mile from Princes Street and a short walk from Lothian Road, benefitting from a city centre location.

Square & Crescent is a widely-regarded residential developer with a primary focus on the acquisition, development and refurbishment of beautiful homes.

For more information on Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, visit https://echcharity.org/

For more information on Royal Meadows, or to register interest, please email sales@squareandcrescent.com or call Lesley Coyle on 07586 129184.

For more information on Square & Crescent, visit https://squareandcrescent.com/

Amazon employee nominated for national award

A Blairhall man who works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline has been nominated for a national award thanks to his outstanding efforts supporting the local community.

Oliver Forizs, who works at Amazon in Dunfermline as a sustainability ambassador, was nominated for a national Amazon Stars award by his colleagues at the fulfilment centre.

Amazon Stars, now in its fourth year, is a UK-wide Amazon campaign that recognises and rewards Amazon employees who go above and beyond for their local community by using their skills, time and passion to help others.

Oliver Forizs, who joined Amazon in 2020, is a passionate supporter of the Dunfermline community, taking part in many fundraising and volunteering campaigns in his spare time over the last three years. It’s this passion for making a positive impact in his community that has seen Oliver nominated in this year’s Amazon Stars awards.

Oliver’s support of his community means he is in with a chance of winning one of two Dream Boxes, the top prize awarded as part of the Amazon Stars campaign. A Dream Box, worth £1,500, is a personalised prize to honour Amazon’s top two community heroes in the UK.

Dream Boxes won by previous Amazon Stars include community donations, music equipment, holiday vouchers and family tickets for Disneyland Paris. Oliver will find out if he has won a Dream Box in December.

Oliver was nominated for the award by his colleagues for his passion for environmental and sustainability change.

Oliver Forizs is a sustainability ambassador at Amazon in Dunfermline and lives in Blairhall with his seven-year-old daughter.

Before joining Amazon two years ago, Oliver worked in the music industry as a tour manager and as a security supervisor at an international airport. A friend told him about a job opening at Amazon, and a week after applying he was hired.

As a single father, Oliver praises Amazon’s flexible working patterns. He said: “One of the best things about working at Amazon is the flexible hours – something of great benefit to me as a single father. Amazon also offers so many different opportunities that make your daily work very colourful.”

Oliver was nominated for an Amazon Stars award due to his passion for environmental and sustainability change. He recently held an event in conjunction with his favourite environmentalist charity, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

He explained: “As a sustainability ambassador, I try to find ways to extend our work to the community around us. Having organised several events, I proposed establishing a partnership with WWF, an organisation I deeply admire for its incredible environmental efforts.

“My managers were enthusiastic about the idea and encouraged me to reach out to the charity, which shared our enthusiasm. Together, we successfully forged a partnership and brought the collaboration to life.

“The event took place at the end of September, with a Wear it Wild dress up theme and half hour movie with the WWF’s own footage about the marine environment around the UK. There was also fundraising in the canteen, with raffle tickets available for a £25 voucher prize. It was all for WWF’s great cause to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. The event raised almost £1,000 and engaged more than 150 Amazon employees.”

“The day was a tremendous success, and our team couldn’t be more thrilled. We not only hit our target but exceeded it, raising more funds than we initially hoped. The event was filled with enthusiasm, inspiring speakers, and wonderful people who are as passionate about the cause as we are. The support from our colleagues at Amazon was great and everyone was really interested and engaged.”

Oliver explained why sustainability is so important to him. He said: “The easiest explanation I can give for why I care so much about the environment comes straight from the definition of sustainability.

“We must arrange our daily life to keep in mind future generations. My present is my daughter’s future, and I want to extend this idea to a bigger scale. My daughter Elizabeth inspires me to make the world a better place, and I am passionate about showing people around me that sustainability is not just about us, it is about future generations.”

Alongside his passion for the environment, Oliver also enjoys painting, golfing and travel.

Amazon General Manager, Jamie Strain, added: “At Amazon, we’re passionate about positively impacting the communities we serve, and Oliver embodies that ethos.

“Amazon Stars is one of the ways that we shine a light on the achievements of our team, giving us an opportunity to celebrate the positive contribution that our employees make to local communities around the UK. Oliver goes above and beyond to support our community and everyone at Amazon in Dunfermline is proud that he has been nominated for this fantastic award.”

Last year, the winners of the Amazon Stars awards included a community music mentor from Dartford, a pilot from Birmingham who provides aviation experiences for people from disadvantaged backgrounds and an animal rescue volunteer from Wakefield. Find out more here.

Amazon provides community donations and employee volunteering opportunities for its employees to support community organisations.

These are two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon provides students, teachers and parents with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and has teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the country.

Earlier this year, Amazon partnered with Comic Relief to become the official home of the Red Nose. Amazon employees across the UK hosted fundraising activities and together with their customers and partners, raised £2.7 million to support those going through the toughest time of their lives.

Learn more about the ways Amazon supports its communities.

Bank Boardroom set for Homeless Christmas Dinner

Royal Bank of Scotland is joining forces with Social Bite to host a Christmas dinner for people who’ve experienced homelessness. The bank will be opening the boardroom at St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh and welcoming those Social Bite and the bank have supported this year.

It is part of the bank’s long-term support for the work Social Bite is doing to end homelessness. Since 2016, Royal Bank has supported Social Bite through donations, gifts-in-kind, and strategic help totalling over £1million.

Royal Bank employees have raised more than £100,000 through sponsored sleepouts, abseils and Christmas appeals.

Taking place on 19 December 2023, those attending include residents and staff from Social Bite’s Village in Edinburgh, run in partnership with Cyrenians to provide a supported community which helps people affected by homelessness to lead an independent life. Social Bite plans to open two new Villages in South Lanarkshire and Dundee over the next two years.

This Christmas, the bank is also supporting Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness which will provide meals, gifts and essentials for people who are homeless at Christmas and throughout the winter, alongside homes and jobs.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “We are so grateful for Royal Bank’s support.

“They have played a key part in a number of transformational projects helping people break the cycle of homelessness, and it is really special that they have created this Christmas experience for the residents of the Village.”

Judith Cruickshank, Chair of the Royal Bank of Scotland Board, said: “Building on our long-term support for Social Bite we are helping to make Christmas a little more enjoyable for some of the most vulnerable.”

Karen Henderson Legacy Fund for Make 2nds Count: £66,900 raised over just two years of support

Make 2nds Count, a pioneering charity focusing on secondary breast cancer is thrilled to announce that The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund has surpassed a monumental fundraising milestone on their behalf, accumulating an impressive total of £66,900 over the course of two years.

The fund was established by Make 2nds Count and Karen’s family in honour of Karen Henderson, who tragically passed away from Secondary Breast Cancer. This incredible fundraising endeavour not only commemorates Karen’s legacy but also serves as a beacon of hope for Secondary Breast Cancer patients across the UK.

Alistair Henderson, Karen’s husband expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is fantastic to think that through The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund, Karen continues to inspire so many people to help make life just that little bit better and happier for Secondary Breast Cancer patients across the UK.

“Karen was a great fundraiser for Make 2nds Count, and we are sure she would be delighted that her great fundraising work continues on in this way. Particularly when we see the lovely feedback from the recipients of our funded initiatives.”

The funds were raised through various activities organised by the Karen Henderson Legacy Fund itself or by friends and supporters, including multiple groups taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, fashion shows at Restoration Yard in Dalkeith Country Park featuring luxury raffles, a successful ladies’ night event at the Sun Inn in Dalkeith, marathon and half marathons ran, charity sales, concerts and notably, the 500 miles challenge, all of which contributed significantly to this achievement.

This money has played a pivotal role in funding vital support services provided by Make 2nds Count, such as the Tea and a Chat program in Edinburgh, Birdsong yoga, and providing meaningful gifts for retreats aimed at supporting patients.

Alistair Henderson continued: “To reach and exceed the £60,000 figure in funds raised in just over 2 years is a fantastic achievement and very much adds to Karen’s lasting legacy.

“Karen’s Legacy Fund greatly appreciates the efforts of everyone who has contributed to making this happen, and we very much hope that we can continue the good work of Karen’s Legacy Fund as we move into 2024. Thank You.”

Make 2nds Count extends its heartfelt gratitude to The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund and all contributors for their unwavering support in making a profound difference in the lives of those affected by Secondary Breast Cancer.

For more information about Make 2nds Count and The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund, please visit https://make2ndscount.co.uk/get-involved/khlf/

Amazon supports new charity Second Chance Store launch

Ten employees from Amazon in Dunfermline played a key role in the launch of a new Amazon retail shop for Barnardo’s this week, when they packed and shipped more than 3,500 product donations for the Second Chance Store in central London.

The product selection – consisting of returned and refurbished Amazon items put back on sale at a reduced cost – features in-demand Christmas gifts with up to 50% savings on recommended retail prices.

While thousands of items including nearly-new gaming consoles, personal tech, toys and games have been donated to the high street store located at London’s Brunswick Centre, the range reflects the millions of returned, refurbished and open-box items available to buy at a discount all year-round from amazon.co.uk/amazonsecondchance.

The website also provides customers with information about product repair, recycling in their local community and trade-in for electronics.

“Working on the launch of the Second Chance Store for Barnardo’s has been a great opportunity for us to come together as a team, have some fun and support a charity that does great work in our community in Dunfermline, and across the UK,” said Ben Robertson from Amazon’s Dunfermline fulfilment centre.

“It’s also a great way to help customers see the range and quality of returned and refurbished items that are available to buy from Amazon online every day of the year.”

“Amazon is committed to giving more products a second chance – both through helping customers shop pre-loved, and through programmes to recycle, trade-in and repair products, contributing to a more circular economy,” added John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon.

“Our Second Chance Store, with all proceeds going to Barnardo’s, is all about offering customers a great way to shop second-hand this festive season, while supporting a brilliant charity we have been working with for many years.”

Across the UK and Europe, customer demand has driven second-hand shopping on Amazon into a billion-pound business.

In the UK alone, Amazon gave a second chance to more than four million products last year, helping British customers save more than £100 million by buying used or refurbished products at a discount.

In the first nine months of 2023, Amazon’s sales of second-hand goods in the UK increased by more than 15% compared to the same period last year.

So far this year, Amazon has facilitated the donation of more than 13 million products to more than 2,000 charities across the UK through its Retail and Fresh operations, and its Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) Donations, a programme which helps independent sellers using the Fulfilment by Amazon service donate their overstock or returned items automatically.

Charities including Barnardo’s, the British Heart Foundation, In Kind Direct, Scope and The Multibank initiative are amongst the donation recipients.

Product donations form one part of Amazon’s circular economy programme. In 2022, Amazon expanded its partnership with WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to support a global circular economy for products.

The company is also supporting the development of a sorting technology to improve plastic packaging recycling through involvement in the Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0, driven by AIM, European Brands Association and powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

The Amazon Second Chance Store is an expansion of Amazon’s existing relationship with Barnardo’s, with millions of products donated to the charity since 2019.

Amazon and Barnardo’s also launched a ground-breaking programme called the JOBS Project (Journey of Becoming Successful) which has supported 65 young people since 2021, with an ambition to help 500 people in the next five years, many of whom are care experienced, develop the skills needed to secure work and develop their careers.

As a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant, Amazon is one of leading employers of care leavers in the UK.

Gordon Ramsay’s Festive Fundraiser returns to Edinburgh

Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Edinburgh venues have welcomed the return of their ‘GReat Donate’ festive fundraiser, to raise money for specialist charity Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland.

The fundraiser launched during the 2022 festive season, coinciding with the launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger restaurant in the St James Quarter. They raised an incredible £15,642 as a result which Gordon and Tana Ramsay then generously matched to give the charity an extra special funds boost.

This year, a £1 voluntary donation will be added to diner’s bills at the St Andrew Square restaurant and St James Quarter restaurant until the end of December 2023.

The funds raised will help SBH Scotland provide vital support to over 4,000 children, young people and adults across Scotland who are affected by the lifelong, complex conditions of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

Gordon Ramsay became SBH Scotland’s first ever Honorary Patron back in 2003 when he met the organisation’s Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, at the Great North Run. For 20 years, he has continued to support SBH Scotland through charitable donations and appearances.

A spokesperson from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants said: “SBH Scotland are a fantastic charity which makes a real difference to the lives of so many families across Scotland who are affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

“We’re delighted to bring back our Festive Fundraiser to our Bread Street Kitchen & Bar and Street Burger restaurants in Edinburgh and we hope our diners will be happy to make a small gesture this Christmas, that’ll have a big impact on families across Scotland.

Lawrence Cowan, Chief Executive of SBH Scotland, said: “As our Honorary Patron, Gordon has been a great friend of our charity for nearly two decades and we couldn’t be more thankful for his and Tana’s continued generosity.

“Over the years, Gordon has taken time out from his busy schedule to host gala dinners, launch appeals including the campaign to build our Family Support Centre, and personally meet with the families we support.

“Right now, people need our support more than ever. Christmas can be a difficult time and with the burden of the cost-of-living crisis looming heavily in families lives, our finance, benefits and specialist support services are needed more than ever. Through this campaign people can help make sure that no one affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus feels alone.

“We rely on donations to make sure our lifeline support continues, so being able to work with the brilliant teams at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants again means a lot to us and the families we support.

“We thank all the diners visiting Bread Street Kitchen or Street Burger this festive season. Every £1 donated matters to a family in need. It’s a chance to enjoy great food and support a great cause this Christmas.”

For more information on why SBH Scotland and Gordon’s festive fundraiser is so important, please visit: https://www.sbhscotland.org.uk/we-need-you

Over 300 elves toddle for CHAS!

Pic Greg Macvean 19/11/2023 The Centre, Livingston – Elf Toddle Walk

300 people, many dressed head to toe as elves, took part in the annual one-mile ‘Elf Toddle Walk’ to raise money for the children’s charity, CHAS on Sunday (19^th November), following the success of the inaugural event last year at The Centre, Livingston.

The family fun event, now a firm fixture in the Christmas calendar, was attended by hundreds of little toddlers who embarked on a one mile walk around the shopping centre, which was two laps, joined by acrobatic elves and Christmas characters including a Snowman and Reindeer.

Livingston Women’s FC footballers joined in the fun and carried out a light warm up for the toddlers and to help get them on their way, Go Radio, who provided the festive tunes on the day, led a Jingle Bells sing-along before the countdown took place and starting whistle was blown.

They were also given extra encouragement and entertained half-way round by 50 singers from the Singergie Choir.

On completion of the walk, all children received a commemorative wooden keepsake medal and chocolate coins, presented by the management team at The Centre, Livingston who were joined by an Elf character.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Thank you to everyone who came along to our annual Elf Toddle Walk at The Centre, Livingston, to help raise funds for the children’s charity, CHAS.

“It was great to welcome even more people this year!

“A big thank you also to all of our volunteers and everyone who helped make it a huge success, including the acrobats, elf helpers, Singergie Choir, Livingston Women’s FC – it was such a great way to spend a Sunday morning, having fun and raising funds at the same time for such a worthy cause.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We are so grateful to all the elf-tastic participants, who joined us for the annual Elf Toddle Walk!

“Every smile and every step came with an added bonus of making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families supported by CHAS.

“We can’t thank The Centre enough for their support and for organising such a fantastic event.”

Community to the fore at Musselburgh Racecourse

As East Lothian’s largest sporting and hospitality venue, Musselburgh Racecourse takes seriously its commitment to working with local communities.

In the last year, the racecourse and its staff have been engaged in a wide range of activities, sponsorships and partnerships with charities and local businesses.

Themed race days which partner with local businesses – like the Luca Ice Cream Family Race Day in July – are a platform to work with sports clubs and charities and to introduce families to the thrill of horse racing.

At this year’s event, Musselburgh Windsor FC offered free football skill session for kids and were able to showcase the club’s 70 year old connection to the Honest Toun, while Musselburgh Food Bank were on-site to accept donations as part of a longer-term association with the racecourse.

At the same race day, children enjoyed more than 500 free pony rides courtesy of a local equestrian yard Tower Farm Riding Stables and 1,200 free ice creams were handed out in association with Luca’s.

The racecourse also teamed up with home builders Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes to offer free admission tickets to new homeowners as part of a “welcome to the neighbourhood” initiative.

Musselburgh Racecourse Commercial Manager, Aisling Johnston, said: “Musselburgh has a strong sense of community and we want to support the ethos of looking out for each other by providing opportunities for local clubs and charities, and to highlight the important contribution they make to the town as a great place to live, work and thrive.”

Another event saw racecourse staff participate in the British Racing Community Day when they collected litter around the Musselburgh Lagoons, and racecourse staff helped with the testing of affordable cooked meal kits on behalf of East Lothian Foodbank to share with local families.

The racecourse was able to raise the profile of groups like Musselburgh Windsor and Musselburgh Athletic FC and events such as the East Coast Harbour Race by providing free space in the race day programmes, naming races after the organisations, and complimentary tv advertising.

And as part of Musselburgh Festival Week, the racecourse hosts a Festival Day which welcomes hundreds of riders and families to enjoy a wide range of free activities following the traditional ride out.

“It is very rewarding to be working with some of Musselburgh’s best businesses and community groups and we are looking at ways in which we can strengthen those bonds and support the vital work they do,” added Aisling.

“The racecourse is synonymous with Musselburgh and on top of providing a five-star racing and hospitality experience for racing fans, it is important to play a part in the social and civic life of the town.”

Amazon Dunfermline Supports Children’s Charities

The team from Amazon in Dunfermline made donations totalling £2,000 to Glasgow Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital as part of the company’s global Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer campaign during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Since 2017, Amazon employees have helped raise awareness and joined in the fight against childhood cancer thanks to the Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer campaign.

A gold ribbon is the universal symbol for childhood cancer and Amazon employees from Dunfermline held a month-long series of gold-themed events in recognition of the international emblem.

The Dunfermline team also showed solidarity to children with cancer by donating a total of £2,000 to Glasgow Children’s Hospital, CHAS and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital.

One of the events this year at Amazon in Dunfermline was a Pyjama Day, which saw the team wear pyjamas to work in honour of children who spend every day in their pyjamas during treatment.

Other events taking place at Amazon in Dunfermline included packing kits including over 200 activity packs and 66 teddy bears for children undergoing treatments at Glasgow and Edinburgh Children’s Hospitals.

The team from Amazon in Dunfermline also visited Glasgow Children’s Hospital to help set up and decorate the hospital’s ‘Games for Weans’ game room.

The aim of Amazon’s Goes Gold campaign is to support kids impacted by cancer as part of the company’s commitment to have a meaningful impact in the communities it serves around the world.

Over 400,000 children across the globe will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and Amazon has an opportunity to make a difference for thousands of these children and their families by raising greater awareness and supporting the work being done in cancer research and front-line care.

Amazon Dunfermline General Manager, Jamie Strain said: “Amazon has proudly supported Childhood Cancer Awareness month since 2017 and this year, we’re pleased to continue playing a part at Amazon in Dunfermline with our pyjama party and gold-themed events.

“We’re pleased to support the efforts of Glasgow Children’s Hospital, CHAS and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, organisations that have a profound impact on children and families in our community.”

Christina Watson is one of the Amazon employees who took part in Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer. She added: “Everyone at Amazon in Dunfermline loved taking part in our gold-themed events to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

“I think it’s brilliant that we’re also able to support Glasgow Children’s Hospital, CHAS and Edinburgh Children’s Hospitals whose staff and volunteers do incredible work for families in our area.”

Amazon employees in the UK also had the opportunity to support children and families affected by childhood cancer by packing activity kits for children facing cancer, which were distributed to nearby hospitals and hospices.

Employees also took part in volunteering with childhood cancer charities and organisations, and had the opportunity to write short stories for children spending time in hospital.

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon provides students, teachers and parents with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and has teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the country.

Learn more about the ways Amazon supports its communities at:

http://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/impact/community

Charity shopping night at Dobbies’ Edinburgh stores in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

Garden centre unveils fundraising festivities

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and Stockbridge little dobbies are celebrating the festive season this November with a Christmas Shopping Night fundraiser in aid of National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Families in Edinburgh are invited to join Dobbies for an evening of seasonal shopping on Thursday 30 November from 5-9pm, with tickets priced at £1 available in store and online now. To help raise awareness, vital funds and spread kindness, all proceeds from ticket sales will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, alongside additional fundraising efforts from activities on the night.

Customers can explore Dobbies brand-new Christmas themes for 2023, be inspired with great value decorations that will adorn any home and take advantage of exclusive deals. Attendees can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, enjoy seasonal songs and book in to experience Santa’s Grotto where children can meet Mr Claus himself.

Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease, and for those that are lucky enough to survive, getting the right physical and emotional support is vital for recovery.

Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 are told they have cancer, and it’s projected that by 2030 this number will be closer to 10. Supporting Teenage Cancer Trust with donations helps fund specialist nurses and youth workers to be there for a young person that’s battling cancer.

Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, has been working closely with Teenage Cancer Trust to raise awareness of the fantastic work they carry out.

She said: “Our late-night shopping events in Edinburgh are a great chance to gather the family, get into the festive spirit and support a charity that’s making such a difference to teenagers and young adults across the UK.

“Last year our fundraising efforts saw over £100k donated to the charity, and we’re hoping to top this benchmark with the help of our customers.”

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationship Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night is a memorable occasion and one our team, supporters and volunteers look forward to every year.

It’s a great chance for communities to get together, share a magical experience and raise vital funds to help us deliver life-changing work to teenagers and young adults battling cancer.”

November is TCT Takeover month for Dobbies, with a social takeover on 2 November, donation weekends in store, donations encouraged for event bookings and the Christmas Shopping Night.

Tickets for the Christmas Shopping Night are £1 per person, with all funds raised going to TCT. Santa’s Grotto will be available to pre book at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. In addition, customers can enjoy 2 courses for £16.99 in the restaurant, allowing visitors to get a taste of the Christmas menu.

This is only bookable online for Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and reservations can be made by visiting Events | Dobbies Garden Centres.

For more information about Dobbies Christmas Shopping Night in partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, visit Events | Dobbies Garden Centres