Tag: charity support

Scottish Friendly staff raise over £11,000 for Action for Children

Scottish Friendly colleagues braved the elements during the Boycott Your Bed challenge, raising £11,706 for Action for Children

  • Fifteen Scottish Friendly colleagues have successfully undertaken the Boycott Your Bed Challenge
  • Colleagues raised £11,706 for Action for Children
  • Representatives from Action for Children attended Scottish Friendly’s recent colleague celebration event in order to be handed the cheque

Ashley Robertson, Brogan Boyd, Christine Manson, Danni Moore, Jonathan Timberlake, Kari-Lee Ford, Kate McLean, Kevin Brown, Lauren Berry, Monica Taggart, Nicola Jackson, Scott McVey, Sophie Alexander, Stuart Gilmore and Taylor Bradley successfully undertook the Boycott Your Bed Challenge in Glasgow.

Boycott Your Bed is held annually by Action for Children in various locations across the UK. It is a popular fundraiser, raising over £13.5 million since it first began over 25 years ago. The challenge is to give up your bed for a whole night to raise vital funding for children who face every night without a safe place to sleep.

The team met at the Renfield Centre in Glasgow to meet other teams and to listen to speakers from Action for Children and young people who have benefited from the charity who explained the important work the charity does. Afterwards, they headed off to Blythswood Square to find a place to set up and sleep for the night.

The team raised nearly £6,000 which was matched by Scottish Friendly, raising a total of just under £12,000 for the charity.

Stephen McGee, CEO of Scottish Friendly commented: “We are very proud of our colleagues who took up the Boycott Your Bed challenge for our charity partner, Action for Children. In doing so, they have helped raise vital funding for an important cause to support those children who need it most during these continued difficult times.

“We hope that the funds raised will aid Action for Children in continuing the incredible work they do to support vulnerable young people across Scotland.”

Fiona Steel, Action for Children National Director for Scotland commented: “We are extremely grateful to the support from Scottish Friendly and the colleagues who undertook this challenge, raising a significant amount of money that will go a long way to helping vulnerable children across Scotland.

“The last few years have been incredibly hard on many families across Scotland and, unfortunately, these challenges are set to continue for many.

“We will continue to be there for children, young people and families and this support and donation will aid Action for Children in doing this.  The support from Scottish Friendly colleagues is very much appreciated and will allow us to continue to support vulnerable children, young people, and their families through these difficult times.”

Amazon Dunfermline pack for children’s charity

The team at Amazon in Dunfermline has delivered bundles of baby and toddler essentials to child poverty charity, Save the Children to distribute to vulnerable families across Scotland.

Save the Children Scotland works to give every child an equal chance; believing that all children have a right to a decent standard of living, to play and to learn. In partnership with Amazon, the charity was able to provide ‘Play Well’ packs to families which contain hints and tips to assist children’s play and learning at home.

In total, the team from Amazon in Dunfermline packed 200 boxes full of items including baby mats, bath bundles and sensory toys which they delivered to the charity for distribution to those who would benefit the most.

Speaking about the donation, Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “The team at Save the Children has changed the lives of so many families across Scotland and I could not be prouder of the team’s efforts to support the charity and show our gratitude.

“We hope the toys deliver smiles to the children that receive them and that the baby products help out parents in need.”

Alasdair Brown, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline who took part in the packing, added: “I am pleased that we can support Save the Children with our donation of packages.

“We had a great day assembling the packs and I’m delighted that parents across Scotland will be supported with baby and toddler essentials.”

Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland at Save the Children, added: “We want to extend a big thank you to the team at Amazon in Dunfermline for helping us provide families with necessary items to assist learning and play.

“At Save the Children, we work to lessen the impact of poverty on children’s learning and development in the early years, and support from organisations like Amazon is essential in helping us achieve our mission of giving every child in Scotland an equal chance.”

The donation to Save the Children was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

Local charities shortlisted to receive share of £25,000 Scotmid funding

LIFT @ Millenium Centre and the Living Memory Association are two of three good causes across the East of Scotland to have been shortlisted to receive a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative.

The funding will be announced next April, following a vote by Scotmid members.

LIFT @ Millenium Centre offers support to families living in the most deprived areas of Edinburgh or those that are socially or financially vulnerable. The funding from Scotmid will be used to deliver ‘Family Teatime’ sessions, which will provide families an opportunity to eat, play and learn together in a safe and welcoming environment.

The Living Memory Association brings together people that are socially isolated or living with dementia. From their base in Ocean Terminal, the charity offers exhibitions, including The Wee Museum of Memory, as well as recording podcasts and videos. The funding from Scotmid will be used to employ a part-time sessional worker and cover materials needed for their workshops.

Pauline Nicol-Bowie, CEO/Founder of LIFT, said: “We are incredibly thankful to be part of Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative, which will help us expand our ‘Family Teatime’ programme.

“This is a vital part of local communities in North Edinburgh and we look forward to being able to expand our services to support more people.”

Heather Robertson, Service Co-ordinator at Living Memory Association, said: “The Living Memory Association is delighted to be shortlisted for Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative.

“The funding will allow us to develop new projects for older people to celebrate lived experience and combat the loneliness and isolation the community can often face.”

The other charity shortlisted in the East of Scotland is Children’s Clothing Bank Dunfermline, which provides pre-loved good quality and new clothes in a dignified manner for children aged 0-18 years in the local community.

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

Return of the Elf Toddle Walk for children’s charity CHAS

One of Scotland’s largest shopping malls – The Centre, Livingston – has announced plans to run its ‘Elf Toddle Walk’ fundraising event again this year for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (CHAS), on Sunday, 19th November at 9am, following the success of the inaugural event last year.

Over 150 little elves took part last year dressed top to toe in elf outfits, and adults too, and completed a one-mile lap around The Centre, Livingston, led by Santa’s elves, raising over £5000 for the charity, which provides the country’s only hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The charity has been providing full family support, including medical care and emotional support, for over 30 years and is committed to ensuring that no matter how short their time may be together, it is a time filled with happiness and fun.

To help get the toddlers on their way, there will be entertainment by acrobatic elves getting up to mischief and Christmas tunes by Go Radio’s afternoon presenter, Gina McKie and Floorfillerz presenter, Stevie Lennon, who will be joining in the fun, light warm up.

On completion of the walk, all children will receive a commemorative wooden keepsake medal and a Christmas treat.

Tickets for the event, which starts at 8.30am on Sunday, 19th November are £5 per child, with all proceeds going to CHAS. Tickets can be booked at:

www.thecentrelivingston.com.

Once registered, a Christmas goody bag with a personal walk number and elf hat can be collected from the Customer Service Desk at The Centre, Livingston between the 31st October and 18th November, with proof of ticket, to enable participants to take part on the day.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “After the success of our first Elf Toddle Walk last year it made perfect sense to make this a firm fixture in the calendar every year.

“The atmosphere in the shopping centre at the event last year was fantastic – it really is such a great way for families to enjoy taking part in a fun-filled event together in the run up to Christmas whilst raising money for such a great charity at the same time.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We at CHAS are absolutely delighted to join hands once again with The Centre, Livingston for the fundraising Elf Toddle Walk.

“It was a tremendous success last year, and we can’t wait to create even more wonderful memories this time around while also raising funds for the families we care for.

“Our goal is to make their time together, no matter how short, as joyful and memorable as possible, filled with love, laughter, and precious moments. We invite everyone to be a part of this heart-warming event.”

Dalkeith Country Park invites visitors to Make 2nds Count

Dalkeith Country Park raises funds for Edinburgh-based charity

Secondary breast cancer charity Make 2nds Count is set for a bumper Breast Cancer Awareness Month boost courtesy of the stunning Dalkeith Country Park.

The Edinburgh-based charity, which supports patients with secondary breast cancer, is Dalkeith Country Park’s chosen charity partner for 2023. They continue to benefit from a range of fundraising initiatives through The Park’s activities and the generosity of their visitors.

October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, provides the latest chance to support the work of Make 2nds Count, which raises awareness of, and funds research into, the little-known form of incurable cancer which claims 1,000 lives each month in the UK and is currently affecting 61,000 people.

On Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13), the iconic Orangerie at Dalkeith Country Park will also be lit up purple as part of the Make 2nds Count Shine a Light campaign, joining over 50 other UK venues that will be lighting up in the charity’s colours on this day.

The Parks’ popular Yellow Trail is turning Purple this October with special prompts designed to shine a light on the incredible work and support provided by Make 2nds Count – giving hope to those affected by secondary breast cancer.

The Yellow Trail Info:

Also known as The Wilderness Walk, the Yellow Trail is a relatively flat 2km route with a surface suitable for bikes and buggies. A series of easy loops that take in impressive views of St Mary’s Church and Dalkeith Palace, as well as a little wonder along River Esk. Approximately 20 minutes in length, the path takes visitors through the Restoration Yard where they can also pick up a range of refreshments.

Walkers will be encouraged to capture and share their time on the Make 2nds Count Trail on social media, to be in with a chance of winning a wellness hamper from Restoration Yard, The Park’s converted 18th-century stable yard.

Catriona Tanner, Marketing Manager for Dalkeith Country Park: “Make 2nds Count was chosen as our charity partner in recognition of the connection between Dalkeith Country Park and Karen Henderson, who was a dearly loved visitor.

“The tireless work that the charity does to support patients and families living with secondary breast cancer is outstanding, and we have been thrilled to be part of their efforts, particularly during this key moment of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

Emma Hall, Head of Operations for Make 2nds Count: “We rely heavily on fundraising and donations to help our community and we are thrilled that Dalkeith Country Park is supporting us.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time when we particularly focus on raising awareness and on education, so the fact that The Park is working with us to fulfil this mission as well as via fundraising is amazing. We are really grateful for their continued support.”

For more information on Make 2nds Count and their work, please visit: 

https://make2ndscount.co.uk

To see more of their Shine a Light Campaign, please visit: 

https://bcam.make2ndscount.co.uk

Scotmid Community Connect cash for local charities

Two Leith-based charities – Edinburgh Young Carers and The Junction – have secured a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative.

The funds were allocated following a vote by Scotmid Members.

Edinburgh Young Carers has been awarded £15,000. The charity is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people between the ages of five and 25 who care for somebody at home.

It aims to improve the lives and wellbeing of young carers by raising awareness of the challenges they face and by offering emotional and practical support.

The Junction, which has secured £5,000, works with young people aged 12-21 across Leith and the North East of Edinburgh, offering access to a wide range of health-related services, education and information by providing a safe and welcoming environment.

The charity encourages social and economic inclusion and promotes long term health and wellbeing.

Margaret Murphy, Chief Executive at Edinburgh Young Carers, said: “We are over the moon to have been awarded £15,000.

“Young carers in Edinburgh face many challenges and responsibilities looking after their loved ones and this funding will provide new opportunities that they otherwise would not have.

“We are committed to offering young carers valuable respite and a place to grow their confidence and skills away from their caring responsibilities.”

The final good cause group in the East of Scotland to have been awarded £5,000 funding is Fairway Fife, a peer mentoring charity addressing the social isolation faced by most young adults with Learning Disabilities or Autism.

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

Allied Vehicles £2k boost for Cyrenians 

An Edinburgh-based homelessness charity will be able to continue running a ground-breaking initiative in the city for the next year after a four-figure donation from one of Scotland’s leading family firms.

Cyrenians approached the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust over concerns for the future of their Homeless Navigator Project, which helps homeless men and women in Edinburgh access and engage with the support they need to secure safe accommodation and get their lives back on track.

“We focus on prevention and reaching those at the edge of homelessness, as well as those in crisis and in recovery,” said the charity.

“Beyond providing direct support to those experiencing street homelessness, we work to prevent homelessness in the first place by alleviating poverty, tackling food insecurity and providing support to families and young people.”

The Homeless Navigator Project offers potentially life-changing support to around 80 homeless people in Edinburgh ­– a street-based initiative delivering street-based emotional and practical help.

Navigators meet people where they are and help them on a journey to where they want to be. They operate in pairs in the centre of Edinburgh three times a week and develop trust-based relationships with people who may have had past negative experiences with support services.

Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust – the charity arm of Allied Vehicles Group in Glasgow – gave the group £2,000 to continue the Homeless Navigator Project.

Calum Wright, Cyrenians fundraising coordinator, said: “The recently released homelessness figures make for grim reading, with rough sleeping on the rise across Scotland.

“Thanks to the generosity of funders like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, our Homeless Navigator project will be able to respond to this rising need and continue to offer life-saving support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“By offering a friendly face and building trusted professional relationships, our staff are able to work with those who are street homeless for as long as it takes for them to get their lives back on track.”

David Facenna, Allied Corporate Culture Director, added: “Behind the rising homelessness figures are real people who have fallen on hard times, many through no fault of their own.

“The Homeless Navigator Project is a novel way of trying to tackle it and I hope our donation will help Cyrenians keep it running over the next year.”

Cycle Kitchen: Edinburgh Tool Library receives boost from Scottish Building Society Foundation

 A local charity has been awarded nearly £5,000 to combat transport poverty across the city. The Edinburgh Tool Library will benefit to the tune of £4,985 from the Scottish Building Society Foundation. 

The project – Cycle Kitchen – will see the development of a series of cycle maintenance courses aimed at tackling transport poverty, promoting bicycle tool proficiency, and fostering self-reliance in the community. 

The grant provided by the Scottish Building Society Foundation will be used to cover the training costs for three volunteers to obtain professional cycle mechanic certifications, as well as funding the purchase of workstation tools, training kits. Additionally, the funding will contribute to employing a project coordinator who will oversee volunteers, assist in course development and training, and organise community events to promote the course. 

Scottish Building Society Foundation was established by Scottish Building Society in partnership with Foundation Scotland, which is designed to give back to Scottish communities.  

Launched in May 2023 to align with the organisation’s 175th anniversary, an incredible £175,000 will be granted to local charities, causes and organisations across Scotland.  

The first phase of funding attracted 44 applications from across 11 local authority areas of Scotland, with nine successful applicants chosen to receive individual grants of up to £5,000 to help their cause.   

Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, said: “As part of our 175th anniversary celebrations, we wanted to mark the occasion with an incentive that upholds our core value of giving back to the communities.  

“Edinburgh Tool Library’s Cycle Kitchen is a fantastic cause and it’s great to see it being supported by the Scottish Building Society Foundation with funding.  

“In the first round, we’re encouraged at the volume of interest from a variety of inspiring community groups and charities across Scotland and look forward to seeing how they use the funding to make positive impact.  With the second round, we hope to see this go even further. 

“The Scottish Building Society Foundation whilst in its infancy, we hope will make a big difference to many people across the country and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Foundation Scotland to grow the incentive in the years ahead.  

“By investing in good causes, we are building stronger communities.” 

Thomas Bartels, Project Coordinator at Edinburgh Tool Library, said: “Bringing Cycle Kitchen to life allows us to empower individuals seeking equality in transportation options. We’re here to facilitate those who may be curious about cycling as a means of transportation but are uncertain about bike maintenance.  

“Most importantly, for those looking for more affordable and sustainable alternatives to public transport or car ownership, Cycle Kitchen offers a chance to experience a free and health-conscious mode of travel from point A to B.” 

For more information on the Scottish Building Society Foundation or to make an application, visit: https://www.scottishbs.co.uk/scottish-building-society-foundation 

Johnston Carmichael team set to take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk to support future generation

A 26-strong team from Johnston Carmichael, including ten graduates from the Audit team, will lace up their boots tomorrow for Kiltwalk, Scotland’s favourite mass participation charity event, to raise funds for Children 1st. 

With a culture of investing in its people, and inspiring leaders and future leaders, the firm is also committed to supporting the communities in which its 850-plus people work and live and through Kiltwalk it has raised over £45,000 to date for numerous charities across Scotland.  

The accountancy and business advisory firm has been a gold sponsor of the Kiltwalk, which takes place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen, for 7 years. In addition to each office nominating a local charity, the firm encourages its people to select a charity close to their hearts.  

Audit Partner Grant Roger and his family have chosen to support LGBT Youth Scotland as they take on the 15-mile Big Stroll from Musselburgh to Murrayfield Stadium at Sunday’s event. 

Grant has completed the walk every year since joining the firm in 2017 and has supported different local charities each year, including STV Children’s Appeal, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and Maggie’s Edinburgh. He believes it is important to give back to those less fortunate than himself and this year his three children, Ailsa, Katy, and Maeve, chose the charity. 

Grant explains: “My kids have supported me over the years, coming along to cheer me on during the walk, and this year all three are old enough to take part in the longer walk. 

They’ve been learning about equality in school, and they recognise that discrimination still exists toward young people within the LGBTQ+ community so they’ve decided that we should walk in aid of LGBT Youth Scotland. 

“Walking for six or seven hours is not a lot in the grand scheme of things and the money I have raised over the years goes towards helping people who may be struggling or those who are in a less fortunate position than we are as a family.” 

LGBT Youth Scotland is Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQ+ young people and works with 13–25-year-olds across the country to support them to flourish and thrive in all aspects of their lives through the provision of youth work and supporting LGBTQ+ young people to use their voice and create change. 

Nurturing, celebrating, and developing the individuality of its people, is integral to the culture at Johnston Carmichael and this goes beyond the company and into the communities where it works. 

The firm aims to raise the aspirations and achievements of young people and it recently announced a partnership with Netball Scotland, to strengthen the reach and profile of netball in Scotland and engage a lost generation of players, particularly girls, who missed out on the sport due to the pandemic. 

Supporting Netball Scotland and sponsoring Kiltwalk is part of the firm’s ambition to leave a legacy for future generations and this goes beyond fundraising. Events like Kiltwalk bring people from different stages of their careers together, which helps build camaraderie.

Grant said: “Since I joined Johnston Carmichael, I’ve always felt it was important to take part because the Kiltwalk is great for team building and I encourage our young graduates to get involved too. 

“It’s a good way to meet and bring many people from across the company together at different levels of seniority, allowing junior and more experienced team members to do something challenging together.” 

To sponsor Grant and his family and support LGBT Youth Scotland click here. 

Sight Loss fundraisers to take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk Challenge

Two fundraisers with sight loss are taking on a 14-mile sponsored walk in tartan, this Sunday, September 17th.  

The Kiltwalk is an annual multi-city event allowing anyone to raise funds for the charities and causes they care about. Shona Black (58) and Daryl Stewart (21) will be embarking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise funds for RNIB. It’s a cause that’s so important to them and over 180,000 other people who have sight loss in Scotland, as well as their families and friends. 

The pair are up for a challenge, however, as they are not only participating in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, but they have already taken part in the previous three events taking place across the year, in Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen.

Their year-long Kiltwalk journey finishes with a 14-mile grand finale in Scotland’s capital. 

Both long-time volunteers, Shona has been severely sight impaired (blind) for most of her adult life, and Daryl is partially sighted.  

Shona says: “We are especially looking forward to Edinburgh as it’s our last Kiltwalk of the year. We have our fingers crossed for good weather and some other members of the sight loss community will be joining us too.

“Afterwards Daryl and I have promised ourselves we are going for a well-earned drink or two!” 

All funds raised by Shona and Daryl will go towards helping RNIB to offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. 

* You can support Shona and Daryl’s Kiltwalk here: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Shona-Black4