Tag: Edinburgh Childrens Hospitali Charity

Gillespie Macandrew donates £38,000 to its partner charities

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Alzheimer Scotland are to share a donation of £38,000 from law firm Gillespie Macandrew. 

Partners at the firm commit to donating 1% of the firm’s pre-tax profits each year to its partner charities.  Earlier this year Gillespie Macandrew began a three-year partnership with ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland, after the charities were nominated and voted for by staff.

Gillespie Macandrew’s support for its partner charities is both financial and practical. Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee, staff are encouraged to participate in a broad range of additional fundraising activities, and are also given a day off each year to take part in charitable activities.

Chief Executive Officer Robert Graham-Campbell commented: “We are pleased to be able to share the success of our day-to-day business activities in support of these two important charities, particularly at time when their services are under increased pressure.

As well as our donation, we continue to offer practical support however we can. Members of our CSR committee visited the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People where they saw first-hand the amazing work ECHC does and the real difference it makes to the children, young people, their families, and staff. 

Our private client practitioners know all too well the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on individuals and their families and we are proud to support their important work.  In the coming months staff will help to create dementia gardens in Dundee and Glasgow.”

Olivia Penn, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, commented: ‘’We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Gillespie Macandrew who have already shown incredible commitment to our cause through fundraising and volunteering.

“The vital funds raised through the partnership will go towards transforming the lives of seriously ill babies, children and young people by supporting their medical care, mental health and family’s wellbeing. Together, we will make sure children treated in hospital and healthcare settings across Scotland will always be children first and patients second.’’

Caroline Miller, Lead for Stakeholder Engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the dementia community – the loss of formal and informal supports and the rapid progression of the illness are strongly correlated.

“This donation from Gillespie Macandrew will help us to rebuild our frontline services such as day care, gardening and other therapeutic groups, and will make sure that our Dementia Advisors can continue to be a lifeline to people with dementia and their carers in communities across Scotland. 

“The pandemic has shed light on some complex legal issues for people we support in areas like Powers of Attorney and Guardianships, and we are especially grateful for the support that Gillespie Macandrew has provided in the form of training for our colleagues and information sessions for our carers.”

Gillespie Macandrew has a long and proud history of supporting not for profit organisations and staff are given a paid day off each year to participate in charitable or corporate and social responsibility events.

The firm has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth and advises on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes. 

Edinburgh Schools Urged to Spread Charity’s Festive Cheer

SCHOOLS in Edinburgh are being offered the chance to help create a ‘living’ advent calendar for children in hospital so they don’t miss out on the magic of Christmas.

The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s (ECHC) ‘Big Christmas Door Appeal’ will see a different door in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) open each day from the 1st-24th December, with special surprise behind each one.

With visits from the Scottish Ballet in their Cinderella costumes and from Hearts and Hibs football teams, the charity is ensuring children undergoing treatment have a smile on their face this Christmas.

This charity is urging schools in Edinburgh to get involved by decorating classroom doors to create a magical Christmas wonderland and fundraise.

Schools can then take photos of the artistically styled doors and share across social channels using the #bigschristmasdoor.

Sue Diamond, Community Fundraising Manager at ECHC, said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to unite the whole school in something creative and fun over the festive period.

“Not only will the children in school being having fun, they’ll be learning that they can make a real difference to other people’s lives in the process.

“In decorating the doors, the schools will be sending out an important and powerful message that children still need creative and fun stimulation while they’re in hospital.

“It’s a lovely, warm gesture from child to child in support of those in who will be receiving treatment in hospital over the Christmas period.

“Christmas is a time for family and joy, and thanks to the support of schools in the local area, we’ll be able to raise vital funds to support and complement the work of the RHSC as well as other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland.”

ECHC believe that nothing should get in the way of being a child and exist to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital, so they can be a child first and a patient second.

The charity works to make sure that children and young people’s lives are less interrupted by illness. It distributes around £1.5 million per year in support of the work of the RHSC and other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland.

PIC: Rob McDougall