Do the Kiltwalk for carers

VOCAL is looking for supporters to take part in the 2017 Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday 17 September and help raise funds for carers. Registration is open now and there are plenty of spaces still available.

This year the Hunter Foundation is giving every charity a 40% bonus for every £100 raised – that means that VOCAL will receive £140 for every £100 you raise!

VOCAL counselling service manager Lorraine MacKenzie is taking part to celebrate a significant birthday this year, and she urges others to join her.

Lorraine said: “To celebrate my birthday, as well as taking up running, I’ve signed up to do the Kiltwalk for VOCAL. The more people we can get to take part, the better it will be for everybody because we’ll get an extra 40% donation for every £100 each person raises. It will just make such a difference to carers to get that extra money.”

Join Lorraine in the Kiltwalk on Sunday 17 September:

Lorraine puts on her walking shoes to support STV Children’s Appeal

TV favourite Lorraine Kelly is putting on her walking shoes in aid of the STV Children’s Appeal as she takes on the Kiltwalk event in Edinburgh on 18 September.

Lorraine, who is a trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal and has taken on many fundraising challenges for the charity in the past, will put on her tartan to join in Kiltwalk’s ‘Big Stroll’, a stunning 12 mile trek across the city, to raise money for children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland.

Lorraine’s challenge will be sponsored by Scotch Lamb PGI and ties in with an ongoing campaign by Quality Meat Scotland to raise the profile of how quick and easy it is to cook a tasty lamb meal.

Lorraine said: “The STV Children’s Appeal is very close to my heart and I’m always up for a challenge to raise funds for such a deserving cause. This year I will dig out my walking boots, along with some tartan of course, for Kiltwalk, which will help the fight against child poverty in Scotland. A big thanks to Scotch Lamb for supporting my challenge and the fantastic work of the STV Children’s Appeal.”

“We are proud to be supporting Lorraine and the STV Children’s Appeal,” said Carol McLaren, Head of Communications with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). “The timing of the Kiltwalk coincides with our campaign to highlight how easy and quick Scotch Lamb is to cook – a perfect, nutritious meal to rustle up for the family meal after the Kiltwalk!

“We wish Lorraine and all those taking part the best of luck for a great day and our Scotch Lamb mascot will be at the event to help raise the spirits of the footsore!”

Joining Lorraine on the walk is the Scotch Lamb mascot as well as STV weatherman Sean Batty and presenter Peter Martin. Live at Five’s Hayley Matthews and her partner and son will enjoy some family fun on the Wee Wander route.

Last year, Lorraine took to the dance floor in a 24 hour ceilidh extravaganza in aid of the STV Children’s Appeal, and in 2014 the presenter danced her way across the country in Lorraine’s ‘Shimmy across Scotland’, a challenge that saw her take part in as many dance and exercise classes as she could during an intense 24 hours.

Elizabeth Partyka of the STV Children’s Appeal said: “We are thrilled that Lorraine, one of our biggest supporters since we launched the Appeal five years ago, is taking on another fundraising challenge this year, and we hope that people and communities in the Edinburgh area will join in too. Whether you’re taking part in Kiltwalk or simply support by donating, you can help make a real difference to the lives of children affected by poverty right here in Scotland.”

Bright outlook: STV’s Sean to visit local fundraisers

Sean’s stepping out for STV Children’s Appeal

STV’s popular weather man Sean Batty is to pull on his walking boots for a major fundraising challenge in aid of the STV Children’s Appeal – and is asking people in Edinburgh to join in. Continue reading Bright outlook: STV’s Sean to visit local fundraisers

KiltWalk trustees resign

All change at the head of troubled charity

Scottish charity KiltWalk has replaced its entire board of trustees following concerns over the amount of money it is giving to charitable causes.

Earlier this year four charities – CLIC Sargent, Cash for Kids, Aberlour and Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation – withdrew as official partners, some expressing concern over the amount of money reaching them from the Kiltwalk.

Kiltwalk, which was launched in 2011, stages sponsored walks across Scotland to raise money for leading children’s charities, and last year more than 12,000 people took part in KiltWalk organised events. However it’s most recent accounts (2013) showed more was spent on costs than went to charitable causes.

Kiltwalk chairman Michael Ure said the charity incurred additional costs because of a restructure of the organisation, but he and the other trustees have now stood down and a new board will be appointed to take KiltWalk forward.

KiltWalk’s most recent accounts show that, from an income of over £1.6m, £780,000 was spent on running costs – more than the £776,000 which went to charities.

Hundreds of people took part in Edinburgh’s KiltWalk on 3 May. Walkers were advised on the charity’s website:

‘The Kiltwalk exists for one purpose only – to raise money for Scotland’s children’s charities, causes and schools. So while you might also be taking part to get fit, for the challenge or just to have fun, we would ask to set yourself a personal fundraising target of £200 for Scotland’s children.

IMPORTANT – please send your sponsorship directly to The Kiltwalk and NOT to our charity partners or your nominated team cause. We’ll award them a grant.

We would like you to set yourself a target of:

26 and 13/16 miles walkers – £200
Wee Walk – Adult – £100,
Wee Walk – Child (Under 16s) – £50
Wee Walk – Families (A family of four) – £200 combined

Registration Fees:

26 and 13 miles walkers – £25
Wee Walk – Adult £10, Under 16s £5

£25 goes towards the cost of the marquees, stages, red cross, security, toilets, refreshments, signage and many, many other costs on the day.

You also get your Kiltwalk t-shirt, goodie bag and medal, and at £25 we are still priced well below similar events across Scotland.’

Further KiltWalk events are planned for Perth and Speyside in August and Dundee on 20 September, with Platinum and Gold packages on offer on the charity’s website.